A morfologia bucal interna das larvas de Eupemphix nattereri, Physalaemus albonotatus, P. centralis, P. cuvieri, Leptodactylus furnarius, L. fuscus, L. petersii e L. podicipinus são descritas e comparadas utilizando microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A larva de E. nattereri apresenta muitas diferenças quando comparada à larvas de anuros do gênero Physalaemus. As larvas de P. albonotatus, P. centralis e P. cuvieri apresentam semelhanças em sua morfologia bucal interna, tais como o número de papilas infralabiais e papilas laterais à crista mediana. P. centralis difere na quantidade de papilas pós-nasais e papilas da arena do teto bucal. Entre as larvas de Leptodactylus é possível perceber um padrão na distribuição e quantidade das estruturas bucais internas (papilas infralabiais e linguais, papilas das arenas do assoalho e teto bucal, crista mediana, papilas laterais da crista e papilas pós-nasais) nos grupos de espécies. Os caracteres da morfologia bucal larvária podem ser úteis quando utilizados conjuntamente com outros dados auxiliando na compreensão das relações sistemáticas da ordem Anura.

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BackgroundTraditionally, the evolution of terrestrial reproduction in anurans from ancestors that bred in water has been accepted in the literature. Still, the existence of intermediate stages of water dependency, such as species that lay eggs close to water (e.g., in burrows) instead of in bodies of water, supports the hypothesis of an ordered and gradual evolution in the direction of a more terrestrial form of reproduction. However, this conventional view has recently been challenged for some anurans groups. Leptodactylinae frogs are a remarkable example of anurans with an outstanding diversity in terms of reproductive features, with distinct water dependency among lineages. Here, we tested the hypothesis of a gradual and ordered tendency towards terrestriality in Leptodactylinae, including the existence of obligatory intermediate stages, such as semi-terrestrial reproductive strategies. We also addressed the association between reproductive modes and the morphological and ecological features.ResultsAn ancestral reconstruction analysis indicated that even though shifts from aquatic to terrestrial breeding occurred throughout the history of Leptodactylus and Adenomera, shifts from terrestrial to aquatic reproduction happened at almost the same frequency. Our results also demonstrated that reproductive modes for semi-terrestrial tadpoles were not necessarily an intermediate form between aquatic and terrestrial breeds. Correlations among reproductive modes and other life-history traits suggested that tadpole environment, clutch size, nuptial spines, and egg pigmentation were co-evolving and driven by water dependency.ConclusionsOur results found no evidence of evolutionary tendencies toward terrestriality in Leptodactylinae. We found reversals from terrestrial to aquatic tadpole development and no evidence of obligatory intermediate stages, such as semi-terrestrial reproductive strategies. We also found correlations between reproductive modes and other life-history traits driven by water dependence. Aquatic reproductive modes are associated with higher clutch sizes, lentic waters, and the presence of nuptial spines and egg pigmentation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0365-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

There are few systematic studies based on internal buccal and larval cranium morphology of anuran tadpoles. Here we hypothesized phylogenetic relationships of frogs of the Leptodactylus genus with 84 internal larval characters, where 63 of them were described for the first time. We recovered Leptodactylus as monophyletic with two major clades. A similar topological arrangement was found by combining the larval with 98 adult morphology characters. PBS analysis revealed that the two data sets contributed differentially to establish major clades of Leptodactylus in the overall tree. This result was corroborated by the IDL test, which also indicated incongruences between data sets. Together with an overview of internal larval descriptions and discussions about the performance of these characters to reconstruct the phylogeny of Leptodactylus (i.e. homologies and homoplasies), we also provided information regarding intraspecific and populational variation found among the morphologies of the tadpoles sampled.

Abstract:The microanatomy of the oral disc and the buccal cavity of the tadpole of Leptodactylus labyrinthicus is described and compared with other species included in the L. pentadactylus species group. Thirty-five tadpoles between stages 25 and 46 had been dissected and analyzed in scanning electron microscopy. The oral and internal buccal morphology was analyzed in tadpoles between stages 36 and 39. The buccal morphology of the tadpole of L. labyrinthicus is similar to other tadpoles with adaptation to macrophagy, such as the strong queratinization of the jaw, reduction of the internal buccal structures and presence of one glote uncovered, propitious to carnivorous diets. The tadpole of L. pentadactylus species group share this trend to the reduction of the structures of selection and capture of particle, including reduction in the number of the buccal roof and floor arena papillae, reduction or absence of anterior papillae on the buccal pocket, only two postnarial papillae, small lateral ridge papillae and glandular zones restricted in narrow bands on the edge of velum. In the tadpoles of genera Leptodactylus the larval morphology reflects the current groups considered for this genera. Resumo: A microanatomia do disco oral e da cavidade bucal da larva de Leptodactylus labyrinthicus é descrita e comparada com outras espécies do gênero pertencentes ao grupo de L. pentadactylus. Trinta e cinco girinos entre os estágios 25 e 46 foram dissecados e analisados em microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A descrição da morfologia oral foi feita utilizando larvas entre os estágios 36 e 39. A morfologia oral da larva de L. labyrinthicus é similar às descritas para outros girinos com adaptação a macrofagia, com forte queratinização das coberturas das mandíbulas, redução das estruturas bucais internas e presença de uma glote descoberta, propícias às dietas carnívoras. As larvas do grupo de L. pentadactylus compartilham essa tendência à redução das estruturas de seleção e captura de partículas, apresentando redução no número de papilas da arena do assoalho e do teto bucal, redução ou ausência das papilas anteriores às bolsas bucais, apenas duas papilas pós-nasais, pequenas papilas laterais à crista mediana e zonas glandulares restritas a estreitas faixas no bordo velar. Nos girinos do gênero Leptodactylus a morfologia larvária reflete os grupos atuais propostos para o gênero. Palavras-chave: morfologia oral interna, macrofagia, carnivoria, grupo L. pentadactylus.

Bokermannohyla (tribe Cophomantini) is an endemic genus of Brazilian treefrogs containing 32 species arranged into four phenetic groups. The B. pseudopseudis group includes nine species, which are typically found in rupestrian ecosystems of disjunct Brazilian mountain ranges. Tadpoles have been shown to be important sources of information for the taxonomy of this genus, although careful analyses of character variation and descriptions of internal anatomy remain scarce. Since the first description of B. pseudopseudis tadpoles was based on a mixed series containing specimens of B. pseudopseudis and B. sapiranga, we describe the larvae of these two species from their type localities, including their external morphology, oral cavity, and skeletal system. Tadpoles of B. pseudopseudis are easily distinguished from those of B. sapiranga by aspects of their coloration and characters of their oral disc (more labial tooth rows, more numerous submarginal papillae and flaps with labial teeth). These morphological differences may be diagnostic for these two similar species, whereas their chondrocranium, hyobranchial apparatus, and oral cavity are alike, suggesting less variability in these character systems between closely related species. Finally, we provide the first comparison of data on the skeletal system of Bokermannohyla and other Cophomantini, highlighting characters of potential relevance to the systematics of the tribe.

A perda acelerada da cobertura vegetal coloca em risco os recursos naturais e a diversidade biológica, além de afetar a produtividade econômica. Atualmente, a despeito da fiscalização para coibir a prática, grande parte dos desmatamentos são feitos de forma ilegal. Para auxiliar o ensino de Genética da Conservação e Ecologia Molecular é proposta uma atividade que demonstra como o uso de marcador molecular, baseado no sequenciamento de DNA de cloroplasto, pode auxiliar na identificação de amostras apreendidas por órgãos ambientais para resolver e estabelecer provas em crimes ambientais envolvendo desflorestamentos. A atividade pode ser utilizada como simulação de aula prática ou como uma atividade complementar à aula expositiva para alunos de ensino superior. Genética

Esta atividade estimula o raciocínio lógico e auxilia a aprendizagem de conceitos básicos de Genética da Conservação, Ecologia Molecular e Genética de Populações. Ela demonstra uma metodologia para avaliar a ocorrência de depressão endogâmica em populações naturais de plantas, determinada a partir do conhecimento da endogamia em populações naturais e do valor médio do fenótipo para caracteres quantitativos adaptativos. A atividade pode ser utilizada como simulação de aula prática ou como uma atividade complementar à aula expositiva para alunos de ensino superior.