1
|
Vyatkin YA, Shakhparonov VV. Learning the native pond odor as one of the mechanisms of olfactory orientation in juvenile smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:57-63. [PMID: 37266670 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-023-01640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is an important mechanism of orientation in amphibians toward the breeding site. It is known that anurans can memorize the odor of the native pond during larval development and prefer this odor prior to the beginning of dispersion. However, such a mechanism in urodeles has not been studied yet. We conducted experiments on recognition of the odor of a native water body in juveniles of the smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris. One group of larvae were reared in pure water (control), the other group in water with morpholine (10-7 mol/L). A few days after metamorphosis, the newts were tested under paired-choice conditions in a T-maze. A total of 73 newts from the experimental group and 47 newts from the control group were tested. The results of the experiment show that the newts in the experimental group preferred the morpholine solution, whereas the individuals of the control group made the choice randomly. We conclude that newts can learn the odor of the environment in which they developed and use this memory for orientation in later stages of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaroslav Aleksandrovich Vyatkin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, k.12, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
| | - Vladimir Vladimirovich Shakhparonov
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, k.12, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Torez 44, Saint-Petersburg, 194223, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bernabò I, Iannella M, Cittadino V, Corapi A, Romano A, Andreone F, Biondi M, Gallo Splendore M, Tripepi S. Survived the Glaciations, Will They Survive the Fish? Allochthonous Ichthyofauna and Alpine Endemic Newts: A Road Map for a Conservation Strategy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050871. [PMID: 36899728 PMCID: PMC10000147 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Calabrian Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris inexpectata) is a glacial relict with small and extremely localised populations in the Catena Costiera (Calabria, Southern Italy) and is considered to be "Endangered" by the Italian IUCN assessment. Climate-induced habitat loss and recent fish introductions in three lakes of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Laghi di Fagnano threaten the subspecies' survival in the core of its restricted range. Considering these challenges, understanding the distribution and abundance of this newt is crucial. We surveyed the spatially clustered wetlands in the SAC and neighbouring areas. First, we provide the updated distribution of this subspecies, highlighting fish-invaded and fishless sites historically known to host Calabrian Alpine newt populations and two new breeding sites that have been recently colonised. Then, we provide a rough estimate of the abundance, body size and body condition of breeding adults and habitat characteristics in fish-invaded and fishless ponds. We did not detect Calabrian Alpine newts at two historically known sites now invaded by fish. Our results indicate a reduction in occupied sites and small-size populations. These observations highlight the need for future strategies, such as fish removal, the creation of alternative breeding habitats and captive breeding, to preserve this endemic taxon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Bernabò
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, I-87036 Rende, Italy
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Mattia Iannella
- Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio—Coppito, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (M.I.)
| | - Viviana Cittadino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, I-87036 Rende, Italy
- Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio—Coppito, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Anna Corapi
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, I-87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Antonio Romano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la BioEconomia, Via dei Taurini 19, I-00100 Roma, Italy
| | - Franco Andreone
- Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti 36, I-10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Biondi
- Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio—Coppito, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Tripepi
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, I-87036 Rende, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Macaluso L, Mannion PD, Evans SE, Carnevale G, Monti S, Marchitelli D, Delfino M. Biogeographic history of Palearctic caudates revealed by a critical appraisal of their fossil record quality and spatio-temporal distribution. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220935. [PMID: 36465678 PMCID: PMC9709575 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The disjunct geographical range of many lineages of caudates points to a complex evolutionary and biogeographic history that cannot be disentangled by only considering the present-day distribution of salamander biodiversity. Here, we provide a critical reappraisal of the published fossil record of caudates from the Palearctic and quantitatively evaluate the quality of the group's fossil record. Stem-Urodela and Karauridae were widespread in the Palearctic in the Middle Jurassic, suggesting an earlier, unsampled diversification for this group. Cryptobranchidae reached Europe no later than the Oligocene, but this clade was subsequently extirpated from this continent, as well as from western and central Asia. The relatively recent appearance of hynobiids in the fossil record (Early Miocene) is most likely an artefact of a taphonomic bias against the preservation of high-mountain, stream-type environments which early members likely inhabited. Salamandroids first appear in Europe, expanding into Asia by the Miocene. The apparently enigmatic and disjunct distribution of extant caudate lineages is therefore explained by a wider past geographical range, as testified by the fossil record, which was fragmented during the late Cenozoic by a combination of tectonic (i.e. the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau) and climatic drivers, resulting in regional extirpations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Macaluso
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Philip D. Mannion
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK
| | - Susan E. Evans
- Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK
| | - Giorgio Carnevale
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Monti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Domenico Marchitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Delfino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Turin, Italy
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTAICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Minias P, Palomar G, Dudek K, Babik W. Salamanders reveal novel trajectories of amphibian MHC evolution. Evolution 2022; 76:2436-2449. [PMID: 36000494 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) code for immune proteins that are crucial for pathogen recognition in vertebrates. MHC research in nonmodel taxa has long been hampered by its genomic complexity that makes the locus-specific genotyping challenging. The recent progress in sequencing and genotyping methodologies allows an extensive phylogenetic coverage in studies of MHC evolution. Here, we analyzed the peptide-binding region of MHC class I (MHC-I) in 30 species of salamanders from six families representative of Urodela phylogeny. This extensive dataset revealed an extreme diversity of MHC-I in salamanders, both in terms of sequence diversity (about 3000 variants) and architecture (2-22 gene copies per species). The signal of positive selection was moderate and consistent between both peptide-binding domains, but varied greatly between genera. Positions of positively selected sites mostly coincided with human peptide-binding sites, suggesting similar structural properties of MHC-I molecules across distant vertebrate lineages. Finally, we provided evidence for the common intraexonic recombination at MHC-I and for the role of life history traits in the processes of MHC-I expansion/contraction. Our study revealed novel evolutionary trajectories of amphibian MHC and it contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms that generated extraordinary MHC diversity throughout vertebrate evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, 90-237, Poland
| | - Gemma Palomar
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, 30-387, Poland.,Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28805, Spain
| | - Katarzyna Dudek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, 30-387, Poland
| | - Wiesław Babik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, 30-387, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lunghi E, Giachello S, Manenti R, Zhao Y, Corti C, Ficetola GF, Bradley JG. The post hoc measurement as a safe and reliable method to age and size plethodontid salamanders. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11111-11116. [PMID: 33144952 PMCID: PMC7593190 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide biodiversity crisis with the resulting need to increase species protection has led researchers to pursue and select survey methods that guarantee the best quality of data and produce the least negative effects on wild animals. Plethodontids are the most diverse family of salamanders; all species are very sensitive to human handling and noninvasive, but accurate, measurement methods are needed to reduce researchers' impact. Here, we tested the reliability of a noninvasive post hoc method in estimating the snout-vent length (SVL) from photographs showing salamanders' dorsal view. The correlation between the estimated snout-vent length (SVLe) and the conventional SVL was high (R 2 m = .81), and no significant difference occurred between operators with different experience. Finally, we list the numerous advantages for the use of SVLe in terms of data quality and in reducing the stress caused to wild animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Lunghi
- Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Università degli Studi di FirenzeMuseo “La Specola”FirenzeItaly
| | - Simone Giachello
- Dipartimento di Scienze e politiche ambientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e politiche ambientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Yahui Zhao
- Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Claudia Corti
- Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Università degli Studi di FirenzeMuseo “La Specola”FirenzeItaly
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Dipartimento di Scienze e politiche ambientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanoItaly
- Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine (LECA)CNRSUniversity Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Joseph Gavin Bradley
- Biology DepartmentElizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtownKYUSA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Burkhart JJ, Puckett EE, Beringer CJ, Sholy CN, Semlitsch RD, Eggert LS. Post-Pleistocene differentiation in a Central Interior Highlands endemic salamander. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11171-11184. [PMID: 31641463 PMCID: PMC6802018 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM For many endemic species with limited dispersal capacities, the relationship between landscape changes and species distributions is still unclear. We characterized the population structure of the endemic ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) across its distribution in the Central Interior Highlands (CIH) of North America, an area of high species endemism, to infer the ecological and evolutionary history of the species. METHODS We sampled 498 individuals across the species distribution and characterized the population genetic structure using nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. RESULTS Ambystoma annulatum exist in two strongly supported nuclear genetic clusters across the CIH that correspond to a northern cluster that includes the Missouri Ozark populations and a southern cluster that includes the Arkansas and Oklahoma Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains. Our demographic models estimated that these populations diverged approximately 2,700 years ago. Pairwise estimates of genetic differentiation at microsatellite and mtDNA markers indicated limited contemporary gene flow and suggest that genetic differentiation was primarily influenced by changes in the post-Pleistocene landscape of the CIH. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Both the geologic history and post-European settlement history of the CIH have influenced the population genetic structure of A. annulatum. The low mtDNA diversity suggests a retraction into and expansion out of refugial areas in the south-central Ozarks, during temperature fluctuations of the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Similarly, the estimated divergence time for the two nuclear clusters corresponds to changes in the post-Pleistocene landscape. More recently, decreased A. annulatum gene flow may be a result of increased habitat fragmentation and alteration post-European settlement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily E. Puckett
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of MemphisMemphisTNUSA
| | | | | | | | - Lori S. Eggert
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hartley J, Gribbins KM, Siegel DS. Modification of genital kidney nephrons for sperm transport in a plethodontid salamander, Eurycea longicauda. J Morphol 2019; 280:1452-1461. [PMID: 31313860 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Salamanders possess kidneys with two distinct regions: a caudal pelvic portion and cranial genital portion. Nephrons of the pelvic region are responsible for urine formation and transport. Nephrons of the genital region transport sperm from testes to Wolffian ducts; however, nephrons of the genital region possess all the same functional regions found in pelvic kidney nephrons that are involved with urine formation and transport (renal corpuscles, proximal tubules, distal tubules, and collecting ducts). Morphological similarities between pelvic and genital regions stimulated past researchers to hypothesize that nephrons of genital kidneys possess dual function; that is, sperm transport and urine formation/transport. Considering size of glomeruli is directly related to the total amount of blood plasma filtered into the Bowman's space, we tested the hypothesis that nephrons of genital kidneys have reduced urine formation function by comparing glomerular size between nephrons of pelvic and genital kidney regions in Eurycea longicauda with general histological techniques. Light microscopy analysis revealed that glomeruli of pelvic kidneys were significantly larger than those measured from genital kidneys. Transmission electron microscopy analysis also revealed modifications in genital kidney nephrons when compared to pelvic kidney nephrons that suggested a decrease in urine formation function in genital kidneys. Such modifications included a decrease in basal and lateral plasma membrane folding in genital kidney proximal and distal tubules compared to that of pelvic kidney proximal and distal tubules. Genital kidney proximal tubules were also ciliated, which was not observed in pelvic kidney proximal tubules. In conclusion, although structurally similar at the histological level, it appears that nephrons of genital kidneys have decreased urine formation function based on glomerular size comparison and nephron ultrastructure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Hartley
- Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
| | - Kevin M Gribbins
- Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Dustin S Siegel
- Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stöck M, Fakharzadeh F, Kuhl H, Rozenblut-Kościsty B, Leinweber S, Patel R, Ebrahimi M, Voitel S, Schmidtler JF, Kami HG, Ogielska M, Förster DW. Shedding Light on a Secretive Tertiary urodelean Relict: Hynobiid salamanders ( Paradactylodon persicus s.l.) from Iran, Illuminated by Phylogeographic, Developmental and Transcriptomic Data. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10040306. [PMID: 31003559 PMCID: PMC6523714 DOI: 10.3390/genes10040306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hyrcanian Forests present a unique Tertiary relict ecosystem, covering the northern Elburz and Talysh Ranges (Iran, Azerbaijan), a poorly investigated, unique biodiversity hotspot with many cryptic species. Since the 1970s, two nominal species of Urodela, Hynobiidae, Batrachuperus (later: Paradactylodon) have been described: Paradactylodon persicus from northwestern and P. gorganensis from northeastern Iran. Although P. gorganensis has been involved in studies on phylogeny and development, there is little data on the phylogeography, systematics, and development of the genus throughout the Hyrcanian Forests; genome-wide resources have been entirely missing. Given the huge genome size of hynobiids, making whole genome sequencing hardly affordable, we aimed to publish the first transcriptomic resources for Paradactylodon from an embryo and a larva (9.17 Gb RNA sequences; assembled to 78,918 unigenes). We also listed 32 genes involved in vertebrate sexual development and sex determination. Photographic documentation of the development from egg sacs across several embryonal and larval stages until metamorphosis enabled, for the first time, comparison of the ontogeny with that of other hynobiids and new histological and transcriptomic insights into early gonads and timing of their differentiation. Transcriptomes from central Elburz, next-generation sequencing (NGS) libraries of archival DNA of topotypic P. persicus, and GenBank-sequences of eastern P. gorganensis allowed phylogenetic analysis with three mitochondrial genomes, supplemented by PCR-amplified mtDNA-fragments from 17 museum specimens, documenting <2% uncorrected intraspecific genetic distance. Our data suggest that these rare salamanders belong to a single species P. persicus s.l. Humankind has a great responsibility to protect this species and the unique biodiversity of the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, D-12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Fatemeh Fakharzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz 61357-43135, Iran.
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, D-12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Wroclaw University, Sienkiewicza 21,50-335 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Sophie Leinweber
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, D-12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Rhiddi Patel
- Evolutionary Genetics Department, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mehregan Ebrahimi
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71467-13565, Iran.
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
| | - Sebastian Voitel
- Independent Researcher, Spangenbergstraße 81, D-06295 Eisleben, Germany.
| | | | - Haji Gholi Kami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan 49136-15759, Iran.
| | - Maria Ogielska
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Wroclaw University, Sienkiewicza 21,50-335 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Daniel W Förster
- Evolutionary Genetics Department, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Matsui M, Nishikawa K, Tominaga A. Taxonomic Relationships of Hynobius stejnegeri and H. yatsui, with Description of the Amber-Colored Salamander from Kyushu, Japan (Amphibia: Caudata). Zoolog Sci 2017; 34:538-545. [PMID: 29219040 DOI: 10.2108/zs170038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Examination of the holotype of Hynobius stejnegeri Dunn, 1923 revealed that the species is identical with H. yatsui Oyama, 1947 , recently resurrected from H. naevius (Temminck and Schlegel, 1838). The name H. yatsui is therefore relegated to a subjective junior synonym of H. stejnegeri. The latter name, however, has been widely applied to an amber-colored or tortoise-shell salamander from Kyushu, southwestern Japan, which now requires a new name. We, thus, describe the ambercolored salamander as a new species Hynobius ikioi. The new species is phylogenetically very close to H. amakusaensis Nishikawa and Matsui, 2014 and H. osumiensis Nishikawa and Matsui, 2014 , both also from Kyushu, but is easily distinguished from them by its uniquely bi-colored dorsum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Matsui
- 1 Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Nihonmatsu-cho, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kanto Nishikawa
- 1 Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Nihonmatsu-cho, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tominaga
- 2 Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Natchev N, Handschuh S, Lukanov S, Tzankov N, Naumov B, Werneburg I. Contributions to the functional morphology of caudate skulls: kinetic and akinetic forms. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2392. [PMID: 27688958 PMCID: PMC5036112 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A strongly ossified and rigid skull roof, which prevents parietal kinesis, has been reported for the adults of all amphibian clades. Our μ-CT investigations revealed that the Buresch’s newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) possess a peculiar cranial construction. In addition to the typical amphibian pleurokinetic articulation between skull roof and palatoquadrate associated structures, we found flexible connections between nasals and frontals (prokinesis), vomer and parasphenoid (palatokinesis), and between frontals and parietals (mesokinesis). This is the first description of mesokinesis in urodelans. The construction of the skull in the Buresch’s newts also indicates the presence of an articulation between parietals and the exocipitals, discussed as a possible kind of metakinesis. The specific combination of pleuro-, pro-, meso-, palato-, and metakinetic skull articulations indicate to a new kind of kinetic systems unknown for urodelans to this date. We discuss the possible neotenic origin of the skull kinesis and pose the hypothesis that the kinesis in T. ivanbureschi increases the efficiency of fast jaw closure. For that, we compared the construction of the skull in T. ivanbureschi to the akinetic skull of the Common fire salamander Salamandra salamandra. We hypothesize that the design of the skull in the purely terrestrial living salamander shows a similar degree of intracranial mobility. However, this mobility is permitted by elasticity of some bones and not by true articulation between them. We comment on the possible relation between the skull construction and the form of prey shaking mechanism that the species apply to immobilize their victims.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Natchev
- Faculty of Natural Science, Shumen University, Shumen, Bulgaria; Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan Handschuh
- VetCore Facility for Research, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien , Vienna , Austria
| | - Simeon Lukanov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria
| | - Nikolay Tzankov
- Section Vertebrates, National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria
| | - Borislav Naumov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria
| | - Ingmar Werneburg
- Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP), Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute für Evolutions- and Biodiversitätsforschung, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lukanov S, Tzankov N, Handschuh S, Heiss E, Naumov B, Natchev N. On the amphibious food uptake and prey manipulation behavior in the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi, Arntzen and Wielstra, 2013). ZOOLOGY 2016; 119:224-31. [PMID: 27013264 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Feeding behavior in salamanders undergoing seasonal habitat shifts poses substantial challenges caused by differences in the physical properties of air and water. Adapting to these specific environments, urodelans use suction feeding predominantly under water as opposed to lingual food prehension on land. This study aims to determine the functionality of aquatic and terrestrial feeding behavior in the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) in its terrestrial stage. During the terrestrial stage, these newts feed frequently in water where they use hydrodynamic mechanisms for prey capture. On land, prey apprehension is accomplished mainly by lingual prehension, while jaw prehension seems to be the exception (16.67%) in all terrestrial prey capture events. In jaw prehension events there was no detectable depression of the hyo-lingual complex. The success of terrestrial prey capture was significantly higher when T. ivanbureschi used lingual prehension. In addition to prey capture, we studied the mechanisms involved in the subduction of prey. In both media, the newts frequently used a shaking behavior to immobilize the captured earthworms. Apparently, prey shaking constitutes a significant element in the feeding behavior of T. ivanbureschi. Prey immobilization was applied more frequently during underwater feeding, which necessitates a discussion of the influence of the feeding media on food manipulation. We also investigated the osteology of the cranio-cervical complex in T. ivanbureschi to compare it to that of the predominantly terrestrial salamandrid Salamandra salamandra.
Collapse
|
12
|
Omura A, Ejima K, Honda K, Anzai W, Taguchi Y, Koyabu D, Endo H. Locomotion pattern and trunk musculoskeletal architecture among Urodela. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2015; 96:225-235. [PMID: 25914411 PMCID: PMC4402012 DOI: 10.1111/azo.12070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We comparatively examined the trunk musculature and prezygapophyseal angle of mid-trunk vertebra in eight urodele species with different locomotive modes (aquatic Siren intermedia, Amphiuma tridactylum, Necturus maculosus and Andrias japonicus; semi-aquatic Cynops pyrrhogaster, Cynops ensicauda; and terrestrial Hynobius nigrescens, Hynobius lichenatus and Ambystoma tigrinum). We found that the more terrestrial species were characterized by larger dorsal and abdominal muscle weight ratios compared with those of the more aquatic species, whereas muscle ratios of the lateral hypaxial musculature were larger in the more aquatic species. The lateral hypaxial muscles were thicker in the more aquatic species, whereas the M. rectus abdominis was more differentiated in the more terrestrial species. Our results suggest that larger lateral hypaxial muscles function for lateral bending during underwater locomotion in aquatic species. Larger dorsalis and abdominal muscles facilitate resistance against sagittal extension of the trunk, stabilization and support of the ventral contour line against gravity in terrestrial species. The more aquatic species possessed a more horizontal prezygapophyseal angle for more flexible lateral locomotion. In contrast, the more terrestrial species have an increasingly vertical prezygapophyseal angle to provide stronger column support against gravity. Thus, we conclude trunk structure in urodeles differs clearly according to their locomotive modes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Omura
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
- The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
| | - Ken‐Ichiro Ejima
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Nihon University School of Dentistry 1‐8‐13, Kanda‐Surugadai, Chiyoda‐ku Tokyo 101‐8310 Japan
| | - Kazuya Honda
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Nihon University School of Dentistry 1‐8‐13, Kanda‐Surugadai, Chiyoda‐ku Tokyo 101‐8310 Japan
- Division of Systemic Biology and Oncology Dental Research Center Nihon University School of Dentistry 1‐8‐13, Kanda‐Surugadai, Chiyoda‐ku Tokyo 101‐8310 Japan
| | - Wataru Anzai
- The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
| | - Yuki Taguchi
- Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park Asa‐tyou Doubutsuen Asakita‐ku Hiroshima City Hiroshima 731‐3355 Japan
| | - Daisuke Koyabu
- The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
| | - Hideki Endo
- The University Museum The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0033 Japan
| |
Collapse
|