The Tadpole and Karyotype ofRhinellaachavali(Anura: Bufonidae)

Abstract

We describe the external morphology, buccal cavity, chondrocranium, hyobranchial skeleton and musculature of the tadpole of R. achavali, along with its karyotype. Tadpoles were found in a permanent streamlet, showing schooling behavior. External larval morphology seems to be much conserved in Rhinella, not helping in the characterization of the proposed species groups. Buccal cavity morphology confirms the distinctiveness of the R. veraguensis group with respect to other known Rhinella. Musculoskeletal characters show most features shared with other Bufonidae, except for some typical of the basal genus Melanophryniscus.Karyotype is composed of 22 biarmed chromosomes, with secondary constrictions in pair 7, like the other species in the R. marina group.

Comparative morphology of pond, stream and phytotelm-dwelling tadpoles of the South American Redbelly Toads (Anura: Bufonidae:Melanophryniscus)

“…This process is not evident or low and in other bufonids (e.g. Fabrezi & Vera, ; Larson, ; Kolenc et al ., ) and wide and square in Rhinella quechua and R. rumbolli (Aguayo et al ., ; Haad, Vera Candioti & Baldo, in press). The presence of the quadrato‐orbital commissure joining the muscular process and the neurocranium was proposed as a synapomorphy of the clade joining all bufonids but Melanophryniscus [character in Frost et al .…”

The remarkable larval anatomy of Proceratophrys minuta Napoli, Cruz, Abreu and Del‐Grande, 2011 (Amphibia: Anura: Odontophrynidae)

“…Cartilago Meckeli-lower lip; and/or oral sucker Absent Aguayo, Lavilla, Vera Candioti, & Camacho, 2009;Baldo et al, 2014;Carr & Altig, 1991;Haas, 2001Haas, , 2003Haad, Vera Candioti, & Baldo, 2014;Kolenc et al, 2013;Vera Candioti, 2007 Calyptocephalellidae ---…”

Sequence of chondrocranial development in the oriental fire bellied toad Bombina orientalis

“…Investigating the sequential development of cartilaginous elements in a variety of vertebrate species is essential for an understanding of evolutionary changes and for the identification of ontogenetic novelties as well as heterochronic events. The morphology of the chondrocranium of anuran tadpoles has been described in several species (e.g., Candioti, 2007; Candioti, Haas, Altig, & Peixoto, 2017; Haad, Candioti, & Baldo, 2014; Kolenc et al, 2013). Unfortunately, sequential descriptions of cartilage formation from the onset of chondrification until the premetamorphic stage in anurans are scarce (Lukas & Olsson, 2018a; Reiss, 1997) or outdated (Gaupp, 1906; Parker, 1876, 1879; Stephenson, 1951; Stöhr, 1882; van der Westhuizen, 1961).…”