Is it heterochrony? Populational differences in tadpole of Corythomantis greeningi Boulenger, 1896 (Anura: Hylidae)

Corythomantis greeningi is a hylid widely distributed in the xerophilic and sub-humid morphoclimatic regions of northeastern Brazil. The morphology of C. greeningi tadpoles were described from specimens collected in the Bahia, however, we observed some differences in morphology of individuals from Piauí, northeastern Brazil. The tadpoles were collected during the 2019 rainy season and 14 individuals were used to compare the larval characters. We observed differences in external, internal oral and chondrocranial morphology in relation to specimens previously described, especially in oral disc, number and shape of oral cavity papillae and some chondrocranium structures, suggesting a heterochrony in the development of the species. Further studies involving a greater number of tadpoles at different stages, combined with genetic, acoustic, and morphological factors of adult may establish the variation degree of C. greeningi in different regions of northeastern Brazil.

Description of the second species of Synhalcurias Carlgren, 1914, Synhalcurias kahakui sp. nov. (Actiniaria: Actinernidae) with redescription of S. elegans (Wassilieff, 1908)

We describe a new sea anemone species, Synhalcurias kahakui sp. nov., from specimens collected off Otouto-jima and Amami-oshima islands in July 2016 and May 2019. respectively. These sea anemones were identified as belonging to family Actinernidae due to their many endocoelic perfect mesenteries and identified as belonging to the genus Synhalcurias Carlgren, 1914 because they have an oral disc without any developed lobes. Though this genus presently accommodates only one species, Synhalcurias elegans (Wassilieff, 1908), our specimens are smaller than the aforementioned species, have fewer mesenteries, lack nematocyst batteries on the column, and have two types of microbasic p-mastigophores on the mesenterial filaments. These specimens are described as Synhalcurias kahakui sp. nov. In view of the new species, the diagnosis of genus Synhalcurias is revised. In addition, we redescribe S. elegans based on newly specimens collected from Japan.

A new reproductive mode in anurans: Natural history of Bokermannohyla astartea (Anura: Hylidae) with the description of its tadpole and vocal repertoire

Anurans have the greatest diversity of reproductive modes among tetrapod vertebrates, with at least 41 being currently recognized. We describe a new reproductive mode for anurans, as exhibited by the Paranapiacaba Treefrog, Bokermannohyla astartea, an endemic and poorly known species of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest belonging to the B. circumdata group. We also describe other aspects of its reproductive biology, that are relevant to understanding the new reproductive mode, such as courtship behavior, spawning, and tadpoles. Additionally, we redescribe its advertisement call and extend its vocal repertoire by describing three additional call types: courtship, amplectant, and presumed territorial. The new reproductive mode exhibited by B. astartea consists of: (1) deposition of aquatic eggs in leaf-tanks of terrestrial or epiphytic bromeliads located on or over the banks of temporary or permanent streams; (2) exotrophic tadpoles remain in the leaf-tanks during initial stages of development (until Gosner stage 26), after which they presumably jump or are transported to streams after heavy rains that flood their bromeliad tanks; and (3) tadpole development completes in streams. The tadpoles of B. astartea are similar to those of other species of the B. circumdata group, although with differences in the spiracle, eyes, and oral disc. The vocal repertoire of B. astartea exhibits previously unreported acoustic complexity for the genus. Bokermannohyla astartea is the only bromeligenous species known to date among the 187 known species within the tribe Cophomantini. We further discuss evolutionary hypotheses for the origin of this novel reproductive mode.

Differences in external, internal oral and chondrocranial morphology of the tadpole of Corythomantis greeningi Boulenger, 1896 (Anura: Hylidae)

ABSTRACTThe genus Corythomantis currently comprises a single species, Corythomantis greeningi, a hylid widely distributed in xerophilic and subhumid morphoclimatic regions of Brazil, mainly in the Northeast region. Recently the external morphology, internal oral anatomy, and chondrocranium of C. greeningi tadpoles were described from specimens collected in the state of Bahia, however, we observed some differences in morphology of individuals from the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. The tadpoles were collected during the 2019 rainy season and 14 individuals were used to describe and compare the larval characters. We observed differences in external, internal oral and chondrocranial morphology in relation to specimens previously described, especially in oral disc, number and shape of oral cavity papillae, and some chondrocranium structures, as: cartilago suprarostralis, cornua trabeculae, fontanella frontoparietalis, cartilago orbitalis e planum hypobranchiale. Our results point to the occurrence of heterochrony in C. greeningi, but we do not rule out the possibility that tadpoles belong to different species. Further studies involving a greater number of tadpoles at different stages, combined with genetic, acoustic, and morphological factors of adult specimens may establish the variation degree of C. greeningi in different regions of northeastern Brazil.RESUMOO gênero Corythomantis compreende atualmente uma única espécie, Corythomantis greeningi, um hilídeo amplamente distribuído nas regiões morfoclimáticas xerofílicas e subúmidas do Brasil, principalmente na região Nordeste. Recentimente foram descritas a morfologia externa, anatomia oral interna e condrocrânio do girino de C. greeningi a partir de espécimes coletados no estado da Bahia, no entanto, observamos algumas diferenças na morfologia dos indivíduos coletados na região norte do estado do Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil. Os girinos foram coletados durante o período chuvoso de 2019 e 14 indivíduos foram utilizados para descrição e comparação dos caracteres larvais. Observamos diferenças na morfologia externa, oral interna e no condrocranio do girino em relação ao descrito anteriormente, sobretudo no disco oral, no número e formato de papilas cavidade oral e algumas estruturas do condrocrânio, como: cartilago suprarostralis, cornua trabeculae, fontanella frontoparietalis, cartilago orbitalis e planum hypobranchiale. Nossos resultados apontam a ocorrência de heterocronia em C. greeningi, porém não descartamos a possibilidade dos girinos pertencerem a espécies diferentes. Estudos futuros envolvendo uma maior área de distribuição e maior número de indivíduos em estágios diferentes, aliados a fatores genéticos, acústico e morfológicos dos espécimes adultos poderão estabelecer o grau de variação de C. greeningi em diferentes regiões do Nordeste brasileiro.

The tadpoles of five Megophrys Horned frogs (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, Vietnam

Frogs in the genus Megophrys are an Asian radiation of stream-breeding frogs. The tadpoles of many Megophrys species are undescribed; those that are described are often dubiously allocated to species by association with post metamorphic specimens at collection sites and without supportive molecular data. We provide detailed descriptions of the larvae of five species of Megophrys from the Hoang Lien Range in northwest Vietnam: Megophrys fansipanensis, M. gigantica, M. hoanglienensis, M. jingdongensis and M. maosonensis. Tadpoles from different subgenera differ from each other via a combination of patternation in life, oral disc shape and tail morphology but given the small sample size, and limited number of species it is unlikely that these differences can be applied more widely to delineate subgenera. Morphological differences between tadpoles from species within the subgenus Panophrys were insufficient to clearly delineate all species. The ability to identify tadpoles is likely to advance our understanding of the frog fauna in mainland southeast Asia.

Description of tadpoles of the frogs Heterixalus tricolor, H. carbonei and H. luteostriatus (Anura: Hyperoliidae) from western Madagascar

The genus Heterixalus is endemic to Madagascar. It contains eleven species of small to medium-sized tree frogs that typically inhabit open areas like swamps and rice fields. We describe the larval stages of three sympatric species that occur in western Madagascar: H. tricolor, H. carbonei, and H. luteostriatus. Similar to other species of this genus, the tadpoles of these species have a depressed, ovoid body-form and a generalized oral disc. The labial tooth row formula is 1/3(1). Examined phenotypes differed marginally between species. Compared to H. tricolor and H. carbonei, H. luteostriatus showed fewer cusps on the fork-like labial teeth, a lower ventral fin, and a shorter tail. The high morphological resemblance implicates an ecological similarity between species. Highly overlapping niches raise questions on how species co-occur.

Sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) of Singapore: redescription and taxonomy of Phymanthus pinnulatus Martens in Klunzinger, 1877

Despite the ubiquity of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) in tropical ecosystems, our understanding of their biodiversity and taxonomy is limited. Here we re-establish the identity of an intertidal zooxanthellate species, Phymanthuspinnulatus Martens in Klunzinger, 1877. Originally described from a single preserved specimen in the Berlin Museum by CB Klunzinger, his brief footnote lacked crucial details to positively identify the species. Our redescription is based on more than 50 living individuals of P.pinnulatus collected from its type locality, Singapore. These were examined and compared with type materials of the species and its congeners. Specimens of P.pinnulatus differ from syntypes of species described as Phymanthuslevis Kwietniewski, 1898 from Indonesia, as well as Phymanthussansibaricus Carlgren, 1900 and Phymanthusstrandesi Carlgren, 1900, both described from East Africa. Phymanthuspinnulatus was encountered on the lower intertidal, among coral rubble and between rocky crevices. It is vibrantly coloured and has 96 marginal tentacles with branching outgrowths along each, resulting in a ‘frilly’ appearance. The anemone has a flat expanded oral disc, with discal tentacles that are inconspicuous and reduced, unlike syntypes of its congeners. Details of its live appearance, musculature, and cnidom are also provided for the first time. Overall, types of cnidae and capsule sizes differ from other known species of Phymanthus documented elsewhere. It is inferred that P.pinnulatus has a wide distribution that extends eastwards from Singapore, as far as Ambon and the Torres Straits. Some individuals reported as Phymanthusmuscosus Haddon and Shackleton, 1893 and Phymanthusbuitendijki Pax, 1924 are probably P.pinnulatus. This morphological analysis provides new insights into the characters used to delimit P.pinnulatus, clarifies its geographical distribution, and contributes to an ongoing revision of the genus Phymanthus.

Transient integumentary structures in Boana riojana (Anura, Hylidae) tadpoles

Few studies focusing on embryos and/or tadpole skin morphology have described sensory transient organs whose morphological variation could indicate some taxonomical or functional correlations. We explore here some integumentary features of Boana riojana larvae that are rarely mentioned in tadpole descriptions. We provide histomorphological and SEM descriptions of the lateral line system, a series of evenly distributed unpigmented spots, and some symmetrical paired structures dorsal to the oral disc. The latter are previously unreported in any tadpole. Our descriptions reveal that the: 1) the number of lateral lines resembles those for most tadpoles, but with an unusual arrangement of stitches; 2) paired lateral spots are formed by ciliated cells dispersed in clusters unrelated to the lateral line system; and 3) upper-lip related structures are histomorphologically similar to the unpigmented spots. We discuss and suggest that integumentary transient structures in B. riojana represent traits that should be taken into account when describing tadpoles. This new information may help diagnose species and advance our understanding of tadpole ecomorphology and evolution.

Molecular and morphological characterisation of a new root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus horti n. sp. (Tylenchomorpha: Pratylenchidae), from Ghent University Botanical Garden

Summary Root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp., are one of the most important nematode groups in economic terms. The combination of morphological analyses and molecular analyses based on D2-D3 of 28S rDNA, ITS rDNA, and COI mtDNA regions supported the establishment of a new Pratylenchus species, making a total of 103 valid Pratylenchus species. The females of P. horti n. sp. are characterised by the following traits: low labial region with two annuli continuous to the body, en face form belonging to group II sensu Corbett & Clark (1983) with submedian triangular-shaped segments fused with the oral disc and separated from the lateral segments, lateral field with four incisures at vulval level and lacking areolation, robust stylet 15-17 μm long with rounded knobs, and subcylindrical tail with smooth tail tip. The males are largely similar to the females but differ from the females by the partially areolated lateral field, slightly ventrally arcuate and weakly cephalated spicules (15-19 μm), and ventrally curved elongate conical tail with a poorly protruding, crenate bursa. The new species was recovered from soil and root samples from the rhizosphere of Hedychium greenii growing in the Botanical Garden, Ghent University, Belgium.

The larvae of two species of Bokermannohyla (Anura, Hylidae, Cophomantini) endemic to the highlands of central Brazil

Bokermannohyla (tribe Cophomantini) is an endemic genus of Brazilian treefrogs containing 32 species arranged into four phenetic groups. The B. pseudopseudis group includes nine species, which are typically found in rupestrian ecosystems of disjunct Brazilian mountain ranges. Tadpoles have been shown to be important sources of information for the taxonomy of this genus, although careful analyses of character variation and descriptions of internal anatomy remain scarce. Since the first description of B. pseudopseudis tadpoles was based on a mixed series containing specimens of B. pseudopseudis and B. sapiranga, we describe the larvae of these two species from their type localities, including their external morphology, oral cavity, and skeletal system. Tadpoles of B. pseudopseudis are easily distinguished from those of B. sapiranga by aspects of their coloration and characters of their oral disc (more labial tooth rows, more numerous submarginal papillae and flaps with labial teeth). These morphological differences may be diagnostic for these two similar species, whereas their chondrocranium, hyobranchial apparatus, and oral cavity are alike, suggesting less variability in these character systems between closely related species. Finally, we provide the first comparison of data on the skeletal system of Bokermannohyla and other Cophomantini, highlighting characters of potential relevance to the systematics of the tribe.