A simplified table for staging embryos of the pipid frog Pipa arrabali

Abstract

Pipa is a Neotropical genus of frogs that dwell in freshwater environments. It includes four species that lack free-swimming larvae (P. aspera, P. arrabali, P. pipa, and P. snethlageae) and three with tadpoles (P. carvalhoi, P. myersi, and P. parva). Developmental tables such as the one proposed by Nieuwkoop and Faber might be useful for Pipa species with tadpoles. However, for the other Pipa species, to determine stages by this table or by any of the tables already prepared for frogs without tadpoles (e.g., Crinia nimbus, Eleutherodactylus coqui, and Oreobates barituensis) is impossible. By using embryonic, juvenile, and subadult specimens, we generated a staging table for P. arrabali, from the moment limb buds were first observed until birth, based on diagnostic features such as snout-vent length; growth, morphology, and reabsorption of the external tail; growth and differentiation of fore and hind limbs; development of intestine and vent tube; position of the angle of the mouth relative to nostrils and eyes; and color of preserved individuals. Based on these observations, we discuss some noteworthy traits (e.g., posture of hands and feet). We also compare the pattern of development of P. arrabali with that of other anuran species (with and without tadpoles).

Morphology and development of the hyolaryngeal apparatus of Pipa arrabali (Anura: Pipidae)

“…The specimens were differentially stained as whole mounts for bone and cartilage using the method described by Taylor and van Dyke (1985). Staging follows Araújo et al (2016). Observations were performed with the aid of an Olympus SZ stereomicroscope equipped with a camera lucida and a Zeiss stereomicroscope equipped with a camera lucida and a Canon digital photographic camera.…”

Development of a non-amphibious amphibian - an interview with a coquí

“…Gastrotheca riobambae and Eleutherodactylus coqui have been most frequently involved (Elinson and del Pino 2012), and Lepidobatrachus laevis (Bloom et al 2013;Amin et al 2015) has attracted attention recently. There are many others, whose interesting life histories promise to provide unique perspectives (Araújo et al 2016;Fabrezi et al 2010Fabrezi et al , 2016Goldberg and Vera Candioti 2015;Goldberg et al 2012;Grosso et al 2019).…”