Variation in the growth and development of the hind limbs in frogs of the genusTelmatobius(Anura: Telmatobiidae)

Author(s)

Sebastian Barrionuevo, J. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Div Herpetol, Museo Argentino Ciencias Nat Bernardino Rivadavia, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Morphology; v. 281, n. 12, p. 1534-1546, DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

There are remarkable interspecific differences in the sizes of the larvae of Andean frogs of the genusTelmatobius. This size variation seems to be associated with the duration of the larval stage and may affect the hind-limb morphology inTelmatobius. Larval, juvenile, and adultTelmatobius rubigoandT. oxycephaluswere examined to determine the variation in relative sizes of hind-limb elements, their growth patterns during postmetamorphic life, and skeletal ontogeny. The results showed that the proportionately shorter hind limbs ofT. rubigorelative to those ofT. oxycephalusare associated with the protracted development and ossification of hind limbs during the prolonged larval life ofT. rubigo. Postmetamorphically, the hind limbs grew faster than the body in juveniles of both species in contrast to the relative growth rates of the hind limbs and bodies of the adults. The growth phase of juvenileT. rubigoseems shorter than that of juvenileT. oxycephalus; possibly, this heightens the difference in the relative lengths of hind limbs after metamorphosis. Temperature affects the effects of thyroid hormone on growth and development, andT. rubigolives at much higher, colder elevations than doesT. oxycephalus. It is not clear whether the developmental differences described here are plastic (i.e., environmentally induced) or genetically fixed in each species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50741-7 - Diversity and conservation of Brazilian amphibians
• Grantee: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants