Diversity and evolution of sexually dimorphic mental and lateral glands in Cophomantini treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae)

Abstract

We describe the structure and histochemistry of mental and lateral glands in a representative array of 28 species of five genera of the Neotropical hylid frog tribe Cophomantini. Structural diversity was coded in 15 characters that were optimized on the most recent phylogenetic hypothesis. Mental and lateral glands occur in 17 species and 10 species, respectively, whereas nine species have both. Each glandular concentration may have two types of sexually dimorphic skin glands (SDSGs), specialized mucous and specialized serous glands, which occur independently or may co‐occur. Distinctive characteristics related to these glands are shape, aspect of the secretion, disposition, and distribution. The occurrences of mental and lateral glands, and the characters derived from macroscopic and microscopic examinations, have an intricate taxonomic distribution, with differing levels of homoplasy. The function of SDSGs in Cophomantini is currently unknown. However, based on structural and histochemical similarities to SDSGs from other species of amphibians where experimental evidence exists, we infer they might be involved in the secretion of chemical signals during courtship behaviour. The distribution pattern of these glands, along with the existence of different signals (i.e. acoustic, visual, tactile), suggests the presence of multimodal signalling for some species of the tribe. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 114, 12–34.

The Green Clade grows: A phylogenetic analysis of Aplastodiscus (Anura; Hylidae)

“…The male then finds a spot to call for females, usually perched on vegetation distant from the ground. When a female approaches a calling male, both exchange a complex sequence of tactile stimuli that includes contact of the hind limbs and snout with hands, snout with snout, and chin on head (Haddad and Sawaya, 2000;Hartmann et al, 2004;Carvalho-Jr. et al, 2006;Zina and Haddad, 2006;2007), where sexually dimorphic skin glands have recently been described in males (Brunetti et al, 2015). The transit from the calling and meeting point to the burrow can last from 40 min to 9 h (Hartmann et al, 2004;Zina and Haddad, 2007); during this period, the male emits a courtship call (similar to the advertisement call but less intense) while the female follows him to the burrow.…”

Polyandry, Predation, and the Evolution of Frog Reproductive Modes

“…Specialized reproductive modes where the amplectant pair is completely hidden, such as in species of Aplastodiscus and the L. fuscus group (Martins 1988;Haddad and Sawaya 2000), preclude some alternative male mating tactics, such as male displacement or satellite males. Courtship in Aplastodiscus is prolonged, involving tactile and chemical signals between the sexes (Haddad and Sawaya 2000;Brunetti et al 2015), and females thoroughly inspect male-constructed nests before accepting to mate. This elaborate courtship leading to female choice serves as a filter that reduces the chances of alternative mating tactics because intruding males are detected and rejected by the female (Haddad and Sawaya 2000;Zina and Haddad 2006).…”

Odorous secretions in anurans: morphological and functional assessment of serous glands as a source of volatile compounds in the skin of the treefrog Hypsiboas pulchellus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

“…; Barbeau & Lillywhite, ; Brunetti et al. , ; this study), whereas in Phyllomedusinae they are stored in specialized lipid glands (Blaylock et al. ).…”

“…), and from gular and lateral regions in H. marianitae , H. curupi and B. pseudopseudis (Brunetti et al. ). Despite these similarities, the morpho‐physiological evidence presented in this study along with the identification of volatile compounds through SES in H. pulchellus (Brunetti et al.…”

“…A detailed structural and ultrastructural analysis of skin glands from dorsal, gular, lateral and ventral regions of H. punctatus , as well as structural analysis of the gular and lateral regions of H. curupi , H. marianitae , and B. pseudopseudis have been presented previously (Brunetti et al. , ). In the present study, those observations are complemented with the examination of gland distribution and gland size from cephalic and scapular regions of these species.…”