Postembryonic Ontogeny of the Spadefoot Toad, Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae): External Morphology

Hall, John A.; Fitzner, R.E.

doi:10.2307/1467009

Cited by 29 publications

(53 citation statements)

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“…The morphological pattern observed at reduced resource levels (i.e. metamorphs with shorter hind legs and wider heads in some species) seems to mirror less developed morphology, as tadpoles approaching metamorphosis tend to elongate the hind legs and narrow the head (Sokol 1984, Hall et al 1997, Cannatella 1999. A similar trend was found when larvae develop under predation risk (see below).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting effects of environmental factors during larval stage on morphological plasticity in post-metamorphic frogs

Tejedo¹,

Marangoni²,

Pertoldi³

et al. 2010

Clim. Res.

110

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In organisms with complex life cycles, environmentally induced plasticity across sequential stages can have important consequences on morphology and life history traits such as developmental and growth rates. However, previous research in amphibians and other ectothermic vertebrates suggests that some morphological traits are generally insensitive to environmental inductions. We conducted a literature survey to examine the allometric responses in relative hind leg length and head shape of post-metamorphic anuran amphibians to induced environmental (temperature, resource level, predation and desiccation risk) variation operating during the larval phase in 44 studies using 19 species. To estimate and compare plastic responses across studies, we employed both an index of plasticity and effect sizes from a meta-analysis. We found contrasting trait responses to different environmental cues. Higher temperatures increased development more than growth rate and induced smaller heads but not overall shifts in hind leg length. In contrast, an increment in resource availability increased growth more than development, with a parallel increase in hind leg length but no change in head shape. Increases in predation risk decreased both development and growth rates and slightly reduced relative hind leg length, but there was no change in head shape. Pond desiccation induced quick development and low growth rates, with no changes in morphology. Across environments, both hind leg and head shape plasticity were positively correlated with growth rate plasticity. However, plasticity of developmental rate was only correlated with head shape plasticity. Overall, these results suggest that environmental trends predicted by global warming projections, such as increasing pond temperature and accelerating pond desiccation, will significantly influence hind leg and head morphology in metamorphic frogs, which may affect performance and, ultimately, fitness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting effects of environmental factors during larval stage on morphological plasticity in post-metamorphic frogs

Tejedo¹,

Marangoni²,

Pertoldi³

et al. 2010

Clim. Res.

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The morphological characteristics of individuals described here are based on a subset of specimens used by Hall et al (1997) and Hall and Larsen (1998) to describe an ontogenetic series in Scaphiopus intermontanus Cope from the just-hatched larva through the adult. We raised larval individuals, one individual per container, in an environmental chamber set to maintain a constant temperature of 25°C.…”

Section: Materials and Methods Study Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In their study, Hall et al (1997) Gosner (1960) stages 37 and 38 (Hall et al, 1997). When necessary to assist in describing the lateral line system or for making specimen preparations for scanning electron microscopy, we supplemented the preceding specimens with additional stage 37 individuals (see below).…”

Section: Materials and Methods Study Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We identified labial tooth rows in accordance with the scheme of Altig (1970). We considered a labial tooth row as present when at least three teeth, linearly arranged, were observed (Bresler and Bragg, 1954;Hampton and Volpe, 1963;Hall et al, 1997). Perhaps atypically (cf.…”

Section: Materials and Methods Study Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This article represents the third in a series of studies on the development, morphology, and ecology of S. intermontanus individuals. In previous studies we characterized the postembryonic ontogeny of this species from the standpoint of external morphology (Hall et al, 1997) and internal (mostly skeletal) morphology (Hall and Larsen, 1998). We focus here on the external morphology of the prometamorphic larva (limited here to developmental stages 37 and 38), a period of larval development characterized by accelerated hindlimb growth relative to body growth and ending just prior to forelimb emergence (Etkin, 1968;Hall et al, 1997: 131).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Morphology of the prometamorphic larva of the spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae), with an emphasis on the lateral line system and mouthparts

Hall

Fitzner

2002

Journal of Morphology

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We provide a detailed description of the larval morphology of the Great Basin spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus intermontanus), a species with documented morphological variability in larval structures associated with feeding. We based our findings on laboratory-raised individuals fed a herbivorous diet. We characterized the morphology of the prometamorphic larva (limited to developmental stages 37 and 38) and then related our findings to the larval ecology of the species. Based on its morphology, such as slightly depressed body, dorsally positioned eyes, anteroventrally oriented oral disc, intermediate tail fin height and slightly attenuated tail tip, relative lack of ventral neuromasts (compared to Xenopus laevis), and pigmentation banding patterns, and habits, such as selection of breeding sites by adults and larval foraging behavior, S. intermontanus can be characterized best as belonging to a (lentic-) benthic guild of anuran larvae. Nevertheless, the larvae are capable of occupying a broader array of ecological niches. Because we characterized individuals raised on a herbivorous diet, our morphological descriptions apply only to the herbivorous S. intermontanus larva (and perhaps to those larvae that are dietary generalists and may feed carnivorously only infrequently). Our findings can serve as a baseline for future morphological and developmental comparisons with the carnivorous morphological variant of this species.

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Postembryonic ontogeny of the spadefoot toad,Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae): Skeletal morphology

Hall

Larsen

1998

J. Morphol.

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Postembryonic skeletal ontogeny of the pelobatid frog Scaphiopus intermontanus is described based on a developmental series of cleared‐and‐stained, whole‐mount specimens. The focus is on laboratory‐reared individuals fed a herbivorous diet as larvae. Although there is variation in the timing of ossification of individual skeletal elements relative to developmental stages based on external morphological criteria, the sequence of skeletal development generally is conservative. Compared with its close relative, S. bombifrons, ossifications that occur during prometamorphosis tend to be slightly delayed in S. intermontanus; however, cranial bones that ossify during late metamorphic climax in S. intermontanus are delayed until postmetamorphosis in S. bombifrons. The differences in timing between the two species are consistent, however, with differences observed between two developmental series of S. intermontanus raised at two different temperatures. Noteworthy features of skeletal development in S. intermontanus include: 1) presence of palatine ossifications that form from independent centers of ossification and soon fuse with the postnarial portion of the vomers to form the compound vomeropalatine bones; 2) compound sphenethmoid that may arise from four or more endochondral centers of ossification and one dorsal, dermal center of ossification; and 3) presence of transverse processes and vestigal prezygapophyses on the first postsacral vertebra. The morphology of the larval orbitohyoideus and interhyoideus muscles is compared. The record of skeletal ontogeny and muscle morphology presented herein for the herbivorous larval morph can serve as a baseline for comparisons with the ontogeny of the carnivorous larval morph of Scaphiopus. J. Morphol. 238:179–244, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Postembryonic Ontogeny of the Spadefoot Toad, Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae): External Morphology

Cited by 29 publications

References 74 publications

Contrasting effects of environmental factors during larval stage on morphological plasticity in post-metamorphic frogs

Contrasting effects of environmental factors during larval stage on morphological plasticity in post-metamorphic frogs

Morphology of the prometamorphic larva of the spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae), with an emphasis on the lateral line system and mouthparts

Postembryonic ontogeny of the spadefoot toad,Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae): Skeletal morphology

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