ABSTRACT
Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (the skittering frog) is one of the most widespread species in Pakistan. Present study was aimed to know the presence of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis in urban and rural areas of Lower Dir, the North-western Pakistan. A total of 33 frogs were collected, including 15 from rural and 18 from urban areas. The frogs were caught by hands covered with gloves instead of using nets. The collection was managed from August to October 2016 and from April to May 2018. Morphometric analysis, coloration as well as photographs of the frogs have been provided in detail. Skittering frogs were seen frequent in swampy areas near the water bodies. These frogs were mostly seen after sunset.
Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (a rã que desliza) é uma das espécies mais comuns no Paquistão. O presente estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a presença de Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis em áreas urbanas e rurais de Lower Dir, noroeste do Paquistão. Um total de 33 sapos foram coletados, incluindo 15 de áreas rurais e 18 de áreas urbanas. As rãs foram apanhadas com as mãos cobertas com luvas em vez de redes. A coleta foi gerenciada de agosto a outubro de 2016 e de abril a maio de 2018. Análises morfométricas, coloração e também fotografias das rãs foram fornecidas em detalhes. Rãs saltitantes foram vistas freqüentemente em áreas pantanosas próximas aos corpos dágua. Essas rãs eram vistas principalmente após o pôr do sol.
Subject(s)
Animals , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , Bufonidae/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Morphometry structure of Sicilian green toad from the Nature Reserve "Monte Pellegrino" (north-western Sicily) was studied. A total of 666 individuals (354 males and 312 females) were captured in 2003 during reproduction period. Meaningful differences have statistically emerged among the two sexes and the body weight is the best parameter (up to 92 percent correct classification), followed by the length of the body (up to 90 percent correct classification). The simultaneous use of all the examined characters only increases of 1percent the probability for correct discrimination of the sex. In comparison to the dimension of other green toad populations studied by other authors, the body size of this sicilian population results elevated, similar to that of Corsica and of Sardinia. It is possible that the high dimension of the Sicilian population is the result of low competition with other amphibians species and/or to the absence of a winter latency.
Se realizó un estudio morfométrico de la estructura del sapo verde siciliano de la Reserva Natural "Monte Pellegrino" (norte-oeste de Sicilia). Un total de 666 individuos (354 machos y 312 hembras) fueron capturados desde el año 2003 durante la época de reproducción. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos sexos, donde el peso corporal fue el mejor parámetro (hasta 92 por ciento de clasificación correcta), seguido por la longitud corporal (hasta 90 por ciento de clasificación correcta). El uso simultáneo de todos los caracteres examinados solo aumentó un 1 por ciento la probabilidad de una correcta discriminación del sexo. En comparación con la dimensión de otras poblaciones de sapos verdes estudiados por otros autores, el tamaño del cuerpo de esta población siciliana resulta elevado, similar a las poblaciones de Córcega y Cerdeña. Es posible que la gran dimensión de la población siciliana pueda deberse al bajo nivel de competencia con anfibios otras especies y/o a la ausencia de una latencia de invierno.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Biometry , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , ItalyABSTRACT
The plasticity of the anurans' development is probably related to their great ecological and geographic diversity. Therefore, the understanding of environmental occupation by tadpoles is related to their morphological peculiarities. We evaluated the morphologic development of the larval phases 23, 25, 30, 37, 39 and 42 of Rhinella icterica with the aim of establishing the ratio of growth, the increase in corporal mass in relation to growth and the isometry of the corporal variables for each evaluated stage. We submitted the corporal variables to the Multivariate Allometry and the relation between these variables was evaluated using the Principal Components Analysis. We verified the isometric growth and correlation between the different variables, evaluated the growth according to the body mass and established the proportionality ratio between the corporal regions. Each corporal region evaluated presented a fixed proportionality ratio, regardless of the stage, and the size of this portion was found when its proportionality index was multiplied by the tadpole's total length. This study demonstrates that the larval phase of R. icterica presents an isometric growth with proportional development of the corporal parts regardless of the evaluated stage.
A plasticidade do desenvolvimento dos anuros é em razão, provavelmente, da sua grande diversidade ecológica e geográfica, além de que a compreensão da ocupação do ambiente por suas larvas está relacionada às suas peculiaridades morfológicas intra e interespecíficas. Avaliamos aqui o desenvolvimento morfológico das fases larvais 23, 25, 30, 37, 39 e 42 de Rhinella icterica, objetivando estabelecer as suas razões de crescimento, o aumento da massa em relação ao crescimento e a isometria de desenvolvimento corporal para cada estágio avaliado. Para tal, submetemos as variáveis corpóreas à Alometria Multivariada, sendo o relacionamento entre essas variáveis avaliado pela análise dos Componentes Principais. Verificamos a isometria do crescimento e a correlação entre as diversas variáveis, além de avaliarmos o crescimento em função da massa corpórea e estabelecermos a razão de proporcionalidade entre as regiões corpóreas. Cada região corpórea avaliada apresentou uma razão de proporcionalidade fixa, independente do estágio, sendo o tamanho dessa região encontrada quando seu índice de proporcionalidade era multiplicado pelo comprimento total. Este estudo demonstra que a fase larvar de R. icterica apresenta crescimento isométrico com desenvolvimento proporcional das regiões corpóreas independentemente do estágio avaliado.
Subject(s)
Animals , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , Bufonidae/growth & development , Larva/anatomy & histology , Larva/growth & development , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Reproductive period and geographic distribution of the toad Incilius aucoinae in Golfito, Costa Rica. The biology of neotropical amphibians is not well known. Some toad species of the Bufonidae family are common, thus allowing the study of their populations. We studied a population in río Cañaza, Golfito, Costa Rica, in a sector 360 m upstream of Barrio Ureña, divided in 36 sectors of 10 m. The study was carried out for five years, but taking samples of adults in January 1995, 1997, 1998 (except March), and 1999. We also studied tadpoles during four days in 1997. In total, 443 males and 7 females were marked, with 315 males recaptured and no females. Females are bigger (91.1 mm) than males (61.3 mm). Most recaptured individuals occurred in the same or adjacent sectors, with a maximum movement of 28 sectors. One individual was recaptured repeatedly in all the samples. This indicates that they survived at least five reproductive cycles. The reproductive cycle takes place during the dry season, between December and April. We found more individuals during the reproductive cycle of 1997 and less during 1995. Sector 6 had the most number of males and sector number 4 had the least. Sectors with semi-open vegetation had more males compared to sectors with more forest cover. February is the month with the highest abundance of males. There are intermediate values in December and January, and fewer individuals in March and April. In every month, except February, the abundance of individuals was greater where there were beaches. Tadpoles were found both during the day and night in the 31 river sectors, but it was less likely to find tadpoles in the river section during the night. During the day all tadpoles were found scattered around the river, at night they congregated near river margins. The reproductive cycle of this toad occurs during the dry season and females are present only in the reproductive season, resulting in an almost only male sex ratio (only seven females were found). Males can reproduce at least in 5 reproductive cycles, and -unexpectedly- day and night distribution of tadpoles varies. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (Suppl. 1): 301-311. Epub 2009 November 30.
Se estudian algunos aspectos de la biología reproductiva del sapo Incilius aucoinae en una población en el río Cañaza, Golfito, Costa Rica; en una sección de 360 m aguas arriba dividida en 36 sectores de 10 m. La duración del estudio con adultos fue de cuatro años, con muestreos en enero de 1995, 1997, 1998 (excepto marzo) y enero de 1999; los renacuajos se estudiaron en cuatro días de 1997. Se marcaron 443 machos (con 315 reobservaciones) y 7 hembras (no fueron recapturadas). Un individuo fue recapturado en todos los periodos de estudio, lo que indica que por los menos sobreviven a 5 épocas reproductivas. La época reproductiva corresponde a los meses secos, de diciembre a abril. En la época reproductiva de 1997 se encontró más individuos y menos en 1995; el sector 6 es el que tiene más machos y el 4 menos; la mayor cantidad de machos se encontró en sectores con vegetación semiabierta, los sectores con mayor cobertura vegetal tienen menos; febrero es el mes con mayor abundancia de machos, con valores intermedios en diciembre y enero, y con muy pocos individuos en marzo y abril. En todos los meses, excepto febrero, la abundancia fue mayor donde había playones. Este sapo se reproduce en la época seca, y en el sitio reproductivo las hembras apenas entran a reproducirse. Se da una relación de sexos de casi solo machos, pues solo hubo 7 hembras observadas, y sorprende los cambios de distribución entre el día y la noche en los renacuajos.
Subject(s)
Anura/growth & development , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , Bufonidae/embryology , Ecosystem , Larva , Costa RicaABSTRACT
A distinctive new species of Atelopus is described from Parque Nacional Chirripó Grande, Cordillera de Talamanca (3 400-3 500 m). It closely resembles populations of the Atelopus ignescens complex from the Andes of northern Ecuador and southern Colombia. it differs most significantly from these frogs in the pattern of spiculae and coni development on the throat, chest, hands and feet. The Costa Rican species appears to be an outlier of the complex inexplicably separated geographically from its nearest allies by an over land distance of about 1 600 km. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 381-386. Epub 2009 June 30.
Se describe una nueva especie de Atelopus del Parque Nacional Chirripó Grande, Cordillera de Talamanca (3 400-3 500 m sobre el nivel del mar). Se parece a poblaciones del complejo de Atelopus ignescens de los Andes del norte de Ecuador y del sur de Colombia. Principalmente difiere de estas ranas en el patrón de desarrollo de espículas y conos en la garganta, pecho, manos y pies. La especie de Costa Rica es atípica dentro del complejo por estar inexplicablemente separada geográficamente de sus más cercanos representantes por una distancia aproximada de 1 600 km por tierra.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , Bufonidae/classification , Costa RicaABSTRACT
Size distribution, sex ratio and use of burrows of the burrowing toad Rhinella fernandezae were studied in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Two sites separated by approximately 300 m were studied: one was a road next to a swamp, and the other a garden of a country house located further from the swamp. We identified toad burrows, and individuals were sexed, measured and given an individual mark. Burrows were examined in subsequent months after the first sampling to assess the presence of toads. We found significant differences in the size distribution between areas, being the proportion of juveniles greater at the site next to the swamp where the reproduction of the species was observed. This result may suggest that the site located near to the swamp functions as a source habitat of individuals that migrate to the other site, where recruitment would be very scarce. Sex proportion of adults did not differ from 1:1 in neither the total population nor in each site, suggesting that there was not differential mortality by sex. Some toads changed burrows throughout the study period, but there were not differences in the frequency of change between adults and juveniles.
Distribuição de tamanho, razão sexual operacional, e uso de covas do sapo Rhinella fernandezae foram estudados na província de Buenos Aires, Argentina, em dois sítios afastados 300 m. Um deles é uma trilha próxima a um pântano, o outro, um jardim de uma casa rural, mais afastado do pântano. Identificamos as covas dos sapos, e os indivíduos dentro delas foram sexados, medidos e marcados individualmente. As covas foram monitoradas mensalmente, depois da primeira amostragem para avaliar a presença dos sapos. Achamos diferenças na distribuição de tamanhos entres os sítios, sendo a proporção de juvenis maior naquele próximo ao pântano, onde a reprodução da espécie foi observada. O resultado sugere que o sítio próximo ao pântano funciona como um habitat fonte de indivíduos que migram para aquele mais afastado, onde o recrutamento seria escasso. A taxa entre os sexos dos adultos não foi diferente de 1:1 em nenhum dos sítios amostrados, nem na população total, sugerindo que não existe mortalidade diferencial entre machos e fêmeas. Alguns sapos mudaram de cova durante o período do estudo, mas não houve diferenças na freqüência de mudança entre juvenis e adultos.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Bufonidae/physiology , Argentina , Bufonidae/anatomy & histology , Bufonidae/classification , Ecosystem , Population Density , Sex RatioABSTRACT
The cardiac automatism, as a physiologic process represents the independence of the cardiac muscle from the organic control. This is its main feature (Gannong 1968). The cardiconducting system is responsible for it (Gannong 1968), which is connected to the sympa thetic system through the cardiac nerves from the cervical ganglia (Truex and Carpenter 1965). Al this, is described by human anatomy (Testut 1954, Gardner 1960, Caso 1965, Truex and Carpenter 1965, Paturet, Rouviere and Delmas 1974) and by mammals anatomy (Davies et al 1952, Grassé 1972), but there is no description of similar structures in low vertebrates. Through a microscopical study of the atrial structure of the heart of 25 specimen of Bufo arunco, we found an intrinsoc ganglion in the septum atrial, which compared to that of a rabbit presented identical structures (Mitchell 1956). Samples of ganglia tissue of Vufo arunco, processed by Bodian's stain (Matoja 1970) show a clear nervous structure, and it is possible, in situ, relate it to the fibers of the cardiac nerve. The morphological and hystological identity between the rabbit and bufo arunco ganglia, permits to think of a functional identy too, that would be the regulation of the caridac contraction through sympathetic system (Paturet 1968). This identity makes us conclude the existence of an intrinsic sumpathetic ganglion in the heart of Bufo arunco