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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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Muñoz MI, Goutte S, Ellers J, Halfwerk W. Environmental and morphological constraints interact to drive the evolution of communication signals in frogs. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1749-1757. [PMID: 33047401 PMCID: PMC7756787 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Animals show a rich diversity of signals and displays. Among the many selective forces driving the evolution of communication signals, one widely recognized factor is the structure of the environment where animals communicate. In particular, animals communicating by sounds often emit acoustic signals from specific locations, such as high up in the air, from the ground or in the water. The properties of these different display sites may impose different constraints on sound production, and therefore drive signal evolution. Here, we used comparative phylogenetic analyses to assess the relationship between calling site (aquatic versus nonaquatic), body size and call dominant frequency of 160 frog species from the families Ranidae, Leptodactylidae and Hylidae. We found that the frequency of frogs calling from the water was lower than that of species calling outside of the water, a trend that was consistent across the three families studied. Furthermore, phylogenetic path analysis revealed that call site had both direct and indirect effects on call frequency. Indirect effects were mediated by call site influencing male body size, which in turn was negatively associated with call frequency. Our results suggest that properties of display sites can drive signal evolution, most likely not only through morphological constraints imposed on the sound production mechanism, but also through changes in body size, highlighting the relevance of the interplay between morphological adaptation and signal evolution. Changes in display site may therefore have important evolutionary consequences, as it may influence sexual selection processes and ultimately may even promote speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías I Muñoz
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jacintha Ellers
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Halfwerk
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Elias-Costa AJ, Montesinos R, Grant T, Faivovich J. The vocal sac of Hylodidae (Amphibia, Anura): Phylogenetic and functional implications of a unique morphology. J Morphol 2017; 278:1506-1516. [PMID: 28744917 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Anuran vocal sacs are elastic chambers that recycle exhaled air during vocalizations and are present in males of most species of frogs. Most knowledge of the diversity of vocal sacs relates to external morphology; detailed information on internal anatomy is available for few groups of frogs. Frogs of the family Hylodidae, which is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and adjacent Argentina and Paraguay, have three patterns of vocal sac morphology-that is, single, subgular; paired, lateral; and absent. The submandibular musculature and structure of the vocal sac mucosa (the internal wall of the vocal sac) of exemplar species of this family and relatives were studied. In contrast to previous accounts, we found that all species of Crossodactylus and Hylodes possess paired, lateral vocal sacs, with the internal mucosa of each sac being separate from the contralateral one. Unlike all other frogs for which data are available, the mucosa of the vocal sacs in these genera is not supported externally by the mm. intermandibularis and interhyoideus. Rather, the vocal sac mucosa projects through the musculature and is free in the submandibular lymphatic sac. The presence of paired, lateral vocal sacs, the internal separation of the sac mucosae, and their projection through the m. interhyoideus are synapomorphies of the family. Furthermore, the specific configuration of the m. interhyoideus allows asymmetric inflation of paired vocal sacs, a feature only reported in species of these diurnal, stream-dwelling frogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin J Elias-Costa
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"-CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
| | - Rachel Montesinos
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, 321, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Taran Grant
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, 321, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Nazaré, 481, Ipiranga, CEP 04263-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"-CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
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