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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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Tapondjou Nkonmeneck WP, Allen KE, Hime PM, Knipp KN, Kameni MM, Tchassem AM, Gonwouo LN, Brown RM. Diversification and historical demography of Rhampholeon spectrum in West-Central Africa. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277107. [PMID: 36525408 PMCID: PMC9757597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pygmy Chameleons of the genus Rhampholeon represent a moderately diverse, geographically circumscribed radiation, with most species (18 out of 19 extant taxa) limited to East Africa. The one exception is Rhampholeon spectrum, a species restricted to West-Central African rainforests. We set out to characterize the geographic basis of genetic variation in this disjunctly distributed Rhampholeon species using a combination of multilocus Sanger data and genomic sequences to explore population structure and range-wide phylogeographic patterns. We also employed demographic analyses and niche modeling to distinguish between alternate explanations to contextualize the impact of past geological and climatic events on the present-day distribution of intraspecific genetic variation. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that R. spectrum is a complex of five geographically delimited populations grouped into two major clades (montane vs. lowland). We found pronounced population structure suggesting that divergence and, potentially, speciation began between the late Miocene and the Pleistocene. Sea level changes during the Pleistocene climatic oscillations resulted in allopatric divergence associated with dispersal over an ocean channel barrier and colonization of Bioko Island. Demographic inferences and range stability mapping each support diversification models with secondary contact due to population contraction in lowland and montane refugia during the interglacial period. Allopatric divergence, congruent with isolation caused by geologic uplift of the East African rift system, the "descent into the Icehouse," and aridification of sub-Saharan Africa during the Eocene-Oligocene are identified as the key events explaining the population divergence between R. spectrum and its closely related sister clade from the Eastern Arc Mountains. Our results unveil cryptic genetic diversity in R. spectrum, suggesting the possibility of a species complex distributed across the Lower Guinean Forest and the Island of Bioko. We highlight the major element of species diversification that modelled today's diversity and distributions in most West-Central African vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Paulin Tapondjou Nkonmeneck
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Kaitlin E. Allen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Hime
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Kristen N. Knipp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Marina M. Kameni
- Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Arnaud M. Tchassem
- Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - LeGrand N. Gonwouo
- Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Rafe M. Brown
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
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Schäfer M, Neira-Salamea K, Sandberger-Loua L, Doumbia J, Rödel MO. Genus-specific and Habitat-dependent Plant Ingestion in West African Sabre-toothed Frogs (Anura, Odontobatrachidae: Odontobatrachus). HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2022. [DOI: 10.1655/0733-1347-36.1.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Schäfer
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karla Neira-Salamea
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Sandberger-Loua
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph Doumbia
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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Neira-Salamea K, Doumbia J, Hillers A, Sandberger-Loua L, Kouamé NG, Brede C, Schäfer M, Blackburn DC, Barej MF, Rödel MO. A new slippery frog (Amphibia, Conrauidae, Conraua Nieden, 1908) from the Fouta Djallon Highlands, west-central Guinea. ZOOSYST EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.76692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a new species of the genus Conraua from the Fouta Djallon Highlands in Guinea. The species is recognised as distinct from nominotypical C. alleni, based on morphological evidence and is supported by a recent species delimitation analysis, based on DNA sequence data. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the unique combination of the following characters: medium body size, robust limbs, only one instead of two palmar tubercles, the first finger webbed to below the first subarticular tubercle, presence of a lateral line system, indistinct tympanum, two subarticular tubercles on fingers III and IV, venter in adults white with dark brown spots or dark brown with grey or whitish spots. The new species differs from all congeners by more than 6% in the DNA sequence of mitochondrial ribosomal 16S. We discuss isolation in Pliocene and Pleistocene forest refugia as a potential driver of speciation in the C. alleni complex. We also emphasise the importance of conserving the remaining forest fragments in the Fouta Djallon Region for the preservation of both its unique biodiversity and its valuable water sources for local people.
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Blackburn DC, Nielsen SV, Barej MF, Doumbia J, Hirschfeld M, Kouamé NG, Lawson D, Loader S, Ofori‐Boateng C, Stanley EL, Rödel M. Evolution of the African slippery frogs (Anura:
Conraua
), including the world’s largest living frog. ZOOL SCR 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David C. Blackburn
- Department of Natural History Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Stuart V. Nielsen
- Department of Natural History Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Marquette University Milwaukee WI USA
| | - Michael F. Barej
- Museum für Naturkunde ‐ Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Berlin Germany
| | | | - Mareike Hirschfeld
- Museum für Naturkunde ‐ Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Berlin Germany
| | | | - Dwight Lawson
- Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Oklahoma City OK USA
| | | | | | - Edward L. Stanley
- Department of Natural History Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Mark‐Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde ‐ Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Berlin Germany
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Kpan TF, Ernst R, Kouassi PK, Rödel M. Prevalence of endoparasitic mites on four West African leaf‐litter frogs depends on habitat humidity. Biotropica 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tokouaho Flora Kpan
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Berlin Germany
- Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique Abidjan Côte d´Ivoire
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research – BBIB Berlin Germany
| | - Raffael Ernst
- Museum of ZoologySenckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Philippe K. Kouassi
- U.F.R BiosciencesLaboratory of ZoologyUniversity Félix Houphoüet‐Boigny of Cocody Abidjan Côte d´Ivoire
| | - Mark‐Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research – BBIB Berlin Germany
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Elias-Costa AJ, Faivovich J. Convergence to the tiniest detail: vocal sac structure in torrent-dwelling frogs. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Cascades and fast-flowing streams impose severe restrictions on acoustic communication, with loud broadband background noise hampering signal detection and recognition. In this context, diverse behavioural features, such as ultrasound production and visual displays, have arisen in the evolutionary history of torrent-dwelling amphibians. The importance of the vocal sac in multimodal communication is being increasingly recognized, and recently a new vocal sac visual display has been discovered: unilateral inflation of paired vocal sacs. In the diurnal stream-breeding Hylodidae from the Atlantic forest, where it was first described, this behaviour is likely to be enabled by a unique anatomical configuration of the vocal sacs. To assess whether other taxa share this exceptional structure, we surveyed torrent-dwelling species with paired vocal sacs across the anuran tree of life and examined the vocal sac anatomy of exemplar species across 18 families. We found striking anatomical convergence among hylodids and species of the distantly related basal ranid genera Staurois, Huia, Meristogenys and Amolops. Ancestral character state reconstruction identified three new synapomorphies for Ranidae. Furthermore, we surveyed the vocal sac configuration of other anuran species that perform visual displays and report observations on what appears to be unilateral inflation of paired vocal sacs, in Staurois guttatus – an extremely rare behaviour in anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín J Elias-Costa
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’ – CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’ – CONICET, 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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Rödel MO, Glos J. Herpetological surveys in two proposed protected areas in Liberia, West Africa. ZOOSYST EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.31726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In March and April 2018 we surveyed amphibians and reptiles in two Proposed Protected Areas (PPAs) in Liberia. In the Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area (KBPPA) in eastern Liberia 36 species of amphibians and 13 species of reptiles were recorded. In the Foya Proposed Protected Area (FPPA) in western Liberia 39 species of amphibians and 10 species of reptiles were recorded. The encountered herpetological communities in both sites were typical for West African rainforests. However, some species indicated disturbances, in particular at the edges of the study areas, the surrounding villages and plantations, and old artisanal gold mining sites within forests. Of particular conservation interest was the discovery of a high percentage of typical rainforest specialists with ranges restricted to the western part of the Upper Guinea rainforest biodiversity hotspot. Outstanding discoveries in KBPPA were two new species of puddle frogs, and the first country record for the arboreal, parachuting lizardHolaspisguentheri. Remarkable records in FPPA comprise a new species of stiletto snake, a new puddle frog and records of various frog species typically breeding in undisturbed rainforest streams, such asOdontobatrachusnatatorandConrauaalleni. Both study areas comprise an important proportion of the remaining rainforests in the Upper Guinea forest zone. The new discoveries indicate that within this biogeographic area, southeastern and western Liberian rainforest may still hold various undiscovered species and species of conservation concern. Further surveys in KBPPA and FPPA and nearby forests should clarify the distribution and conservation status of the new taxa.This study also emphasizes that the western part of the Liberian forests comprise at least partly a herpetofauna which differs from that of the East of the country. The recorded threatened amphibian species are all specialized on relatively undisturbed rainforests and they all have only small geographic ranges. The remaining parts of undisturbed or little disturbed forests thus have high importance for the long-term survival of these species. In conclusion the study areas have a high conservation potential and should be urgently protected from any further forest loss degradation and uncontrolled hunting.
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Luiselli L, Dendi D, Eniang EA, Fakae BB, Akani GC, Fa JE. State of knowledge of research in the Guinean forests of West Africa region. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2017.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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The interplay of past diversification and evolutionary isolation with present imperilment across the amphibian tree of life. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:850-858. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0515-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Turner A, Channing A. Three new species of Arthroleptella Hewitt, 1926 (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa. AFR J HERPETOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1324918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Turner
- Scientific Services, CapeNature, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Alan Channing
- University of the Western Cape, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
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