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Schäfer M, Sydow D, Schauer M, Doumbia J, Schmitt T, Rödel MO. Species- and sex-specific chemical composition from an internal gland-like tissue of an African frog family. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20231693. [PMID: 38196358 PMCID: PMC10777154 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific chemical communication in frogs is understudied and the few published cases are limited to externally visible and male-specific breeding glands. Frogs of the family Odontobatrachidae, a West African endemic complex of five morphologically cryptic species, have large, fatty gland-like strands along their lower mandible. We investigated the general anatomy of this gland-like strand and analysed its chemical composition. We found the strand to be present in males and females of all species. The strand varies in markedness, with well-developed strands usually found in reproductively active individuals. The strands are situated under particularly thin skin sections, the vocal sac in male frogs and a respective area in females. Gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis revealed that the strands contain sex- and species-specific chemical profiles, which are consistent across geographically distant populations. The profiles varied between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. These results indicate that the mandibular strands in the Odontobatrachidae comprise a so far overlooked structure (potentially a gland) that most likely plays a role in the mating and/or breeding behaviour of the five Odontobatrachus species. Our results highlight the relevance of multimodal signalling in anurans, and indicate that chemical communication in frogs may not be restricted to sexually dimorphic, apparent skin glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Schäfer
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - David Sydow
- Zoology III Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maria Schauer
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph Doumbia
- ONG EnviSud Guinée, Quartier Kipé T2 commune de Ratoma, 530 BP 558 Conakry, Guinea
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Zoology III Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Diversity and Sexual Dichromatism in Treefrog Throat Coloration: Potential Signal Function? J HERPETOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1670/21-047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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OUP accepted manuscript. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Struett MM, Confetti AE, Leivas PT. The Brazilian Torrent Frog Controls Its Paired Vocal Sacs Independently: Implications for Acoustic Parameters. SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-19-00103.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M. Struett
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR 81531-980, Brazil
| | - André E. Confetti
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Peterson T. Leivas
- Laboratório de Dinâmicas Ecológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR 81531-980, Brazil
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Elias-Costa AJ, Araujo-Vieira K, Faivovich J. Evolution of the strikingly diverse submandibular muscles in Anura. Cladistics 2021; 37:489-517. [PMID: 34570935 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The most ventral muscles of the head (the mm. submentalis, intermandibularis, and interhyoideus) provide support to the gular region and lift the buccal floor during ventilation and feeding. These muscles show limited variation in most gnathostomes, but in Anura they exhibit a surprising diversity. The few studies that have explored this character system highlighted its potential as a source of phylogenetic information. In this paper we explored the diversity of this character system studying specimens of 567 anuran species and reviewing published data to cover a total of 1321 species, belonging to 53 of the 54 currently recognized anuran families, as well as caudates and caecilians. We defined 27 discrete characters including the number of muscle bellies, supplementary layers, hypertrophy and diversity of elastic fibres, and pigmentation, among others, and optimized them on a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis. We recognized 223 unambiguously optimized synapomorphies for numerous clades on different scales, including three for Anura and many for suprafamiliar clades with poor phenotypic support. Finally, we discussed the evolution of this highly diverse character system, including homology, development, and its functional role in vocalization and feeding. Interestingly, the striking levels of variation in some structures contrast with the amount of phylogenetic inertia, allowing us to recognize several general patterns. Supplementary elements of the m. intermandibularis evolved first as broad layers occuring in more than half of extant anuran species and then concentrated forming discreet bellies in several clades. The anterior portion of the gular region is not sexually dimorphic, and is likely related to ventilation and tongue protraction. Conversely, the diversity of the m. interhyoideus is strongly linked to vocal sacs, which are present only in adult males, suggesting the presence of two independent modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín J Elias-Costa
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Katyuscia Araujo-Vieira
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - CONICET, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina
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Moura PHAG, Elias-Costa AJ, Nunes I, Faivovich J. Diversity and evolution of the extraordinary vocal sacs of casque-headed treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Vocal sacs are among the most conspicuous features of anurans and are particularly striking in casque-headed treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Lophyohylini) with their wide array of morphologies. In this paper, we assessed the anatomy of vocal sacs in representatives of the Lophyohylini, described eight discrete characters and studied their evolution. We inferred that dorsolateral projections of the vocal sacs were already present during the early evolution of the tribe. Subsequently, they reached surprising volumes in some species, whereas in others they were notably reduced. We inferred between nine and 11 independent events of reduction of the size and lateral projections of the vocal sac, showing unprecedented levels of plasticity for the structure. Moreover, these events were strongly correlated with the colonization of phytotelmata as breeding sites, probably due to their confined space which hampers the inflation of large vocal sacs. Finally, we discuss the evolution of paired lateral vocal sacs in different groups of anurans, and the extent to which the paired and dorsally-projecting lobes of most Trachycephalus differ from those of distantly related taxa. Our findings highlight how variation in internal structure affects the shape of the inflated vocal sac and provides a framework applicable across the Anura.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique Areco Gomes Moura
- Laboratório de Herpetologia 11.330–900, Instituto de Biociências, Campus do Litoral Paulista, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente,São Paulo,Brazil
| | - Agustín J Elias-Costa
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”- CONICET, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470,C1405DJR,Buenos Aires,Argentina
| | - Ivan Nunes
- Laboratório de Herpetologia 11.330–900, Instituto de Biociências, Campus do Litoral Paulista, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente,São Paulo,Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”- CONICET, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470,C1405DJR,Buenos Aires,Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Streicher JW, Loader SP, Varela-Jaramillo A, Montoya P, de Sá RO. Analysis of ultraconserved elements supports African origins of narrow-mouthed frogs. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 146:106771. [PMID: 32087330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Narrow-mouthed frogs (Anura: Microhylidae) are globally distributed and molecular data suggest the rapid evolution of multiple subfamilies shortly after their origin. Despite recent progress, several subfamilial relationships remain unexplored using phylogenomic data. We analysed 1,796 nuclear ultraconserved elements, a total matrix of 400,664 nucleotides, from representatives of most microhylid subfamilies. Summary method species-tree and maximum likelihood analyses unambiguously supported Hoplophryninae as the earliest diverging microhylid and confirm Chaperininae as a junior synonym of Microhylinae. Given the emerging consensus that subfamilies from mainland Africa diverged early, microhylids have likely occupied the continent for more than 66 million years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W Streicher
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon P Loader
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Varela-Jaramillo
- Department of Life Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Paola Montoya
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia
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