Larval chondrocranium morphology of five species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro (Amphibia; Anura; Odontophrynidae)

Abstract

The chondrocranium and hyobranchial morphology are described for the tadpoles of five species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro. The chondrocranium of P. appendiculata, P. boiei, P. laticeps and P. tupinamba are very similar and can be distinguished from that of P. cristiceps by: 1) less developed processus muscularis; 2) thinner palatoquadrate; 3) broadest ethmoidal region; 4) longer cornua trabeculae; and 5) morphology f the suprarostral cartilages. A morphological variation among Proceratophrys boiei is described. It reveals the existence of at least three distinct evolutionary lineages under this name. A brief comparison with other cycloramphid species is also provided.

The tadpole of Proceratophrys izecksohni (Amphibia: Anura: Odontophrynidae)

“…The tadpoles of P. izecksohni differs from those of P. appendiculata, P. cristiceps, P. laticeps, P. tupinamba and P. boiei from Rio de Janeiro state (DIAS et al 2013b) by the morphology of the suprarostral cartilage. The central elements -the corpora -are not fused ventromedially (fused in those species).…”

“…We also analyzed the internal oral features of eight tadpoles (Gosner stages 35-36) of a close related species, P. appendiculata, collected in its type locality, Serra dos Órgãos (DIAS et al 2013a). The description of the chondrocranium was based on 19 tadpoles between Gosner stages 30-39 cleared and double stained following DIAS et al (2013b); illustration is based on a specimen on Gosner stage 33 (UNIRIO 4010-B). Chondrocranial terminology follows LARSON &DE SÁ (1998) andHAAS (2003).…”

“…WASSERSUG & HEYER (1988) -classified Proceratophrys within other stream-dwelling species -classification corroborated by other studies (DE SÁ & LANGONE 2002, VIEIRA et al 2007, NASCIMENTO et al 2010, PROVETE et al 2013. The morphology of the chondrocranium also proved to be very conservative, at least within species that possess a long and unique palpebral appendage (DIAS et al 2013b).…”

“…Larval morphology, however, has been successfully used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies (LARSON & DE SÁ 1998, MAGLIA et al 2001, HASS 2003, PÚGENER et al 2003, GRANT et al 2006, CANDIOTI 2008 and seems to be a very useful tool in the classification of Odontophrynidae frogs (DIAS et al 2013b, NASCIMENTO et al 2013. Nevertheless, the absence of data on larval morphology, especially on internal morphology, limits the use of such characters in broader analyses.…”

“…The internal oral morphology is known for eight species (WASSERSUG & HEYER 1988, DE SÁ & LANGONE 2002, VIEIRA et al 2007, NASCIMENTO et al 2010, PROVETE et al 2013, and chondrocranial data for five species (DIAS et al 2013b). Herein we provide a description of the tadpole of Proceratophrys izecksohni including the internal oral features and chondrocranial morphology.…”