The larval development of Litoria brevipalmata (Anura: Hylidae)

4 Pages·1994·1.2 MB·English

by  Marion Anstis

1
THE LARVALDEVELOPMENTOFUTORIA BREViPALMATA (ANURA:HYLIDAE)
MARIONANSTIS
Anstis, M. 1994 J2 01; The larval development ofLitoriabrevipalmata(Anura;Hyhdae>.
MemoirsoftheQueenslandMuseum37(1): 1-4. Brisbane. ISSN0079-8&35
ThetadpoleofLbrevipalmataisuniqueamongstAustralianhylidfrogsoftheponddwelling
neklonic type in possessing a median vent tube. The embryo is one ofa small number of
species so far known to have three pairs of external gills. Anura, Ifylidae, Usoria
brevipalmata, embryonicandlarvaldevelopment.
MAnstts,26WideviewRd BervwraHeights.NewSouthWaksZOBZAustralia;5Jw\uary1994
t
Litoria brevipalituita Tyler, Marljn & Watson, eachofstages37and41 andonenewly metamor-
1972isthesolememberoftheLitoriabrevipalmata phosed at stage 46. Specimens are lodged in the
.v^ciesgroupofTyler&Davies(1975).Amedium- Australian Museum(AMR118482,AMR1 18483).
size, ground-dwelling species, it is readily distin- Tadpoleswereraisedinanoutdoorcontainerof
guished from congeners by the combination of a pondwaterexperiencingvariablewatertempera-
richbrowndorsalcolourandpalegreenintheaxilla, tures (16-25°C), and were fed on boiled lettuce.
groin and posteriorsurfaceofthe thighs. TadpoleswereanaesthetisedinChlorbutolsolution,
Thetypedescriptionwasbasedonaseriesofadult then embryos and tadpoles preserved in Tyler's
frogs collected at Durimbah Ck near Gosford, (1972) Fixative. Specimens weremeasured witha
NSW,andByaburra(nearWauchope)NSW,butno verniercaliperto0.01mm,oranocularmicrometer
information on life history was presented. Mc- attached toastereoscopic microscope.Thestaging
Donald (1974) reported its occurrence at system isthatofGosner (1960).
Ravensbourne and Crows Nest National Parks in Abbreviationsforlarval measurements (Table 1
SE Queensland, and the frog was found sub- refertoAltig(1970).Anstis(1976)andMcDiannid
sequently atJirnna, 80km north of these localities AAltig (1989)as follows:
(Czechura, 197S)andintheKilcoyShire(McEvoy In lateral view: TL = total length; BL = body
eta]., 1979).Barker&Gngg(1977)statedthatlarge length; BD = max body depth; TD = max. tail
numbersofmaleswerecallingafterraininaflooded depth; TM = depthoftailmusculature (in line with
paddock near Gosford (late October, 1972), and TD), BTD = tail depth at body terminus; BTM =
noted thatjuveniles were collectedduring April in depthoftail musculatureatbodyterminus;E=eye
wetsclcrophyll forest, diameter;S=diameterofspiracleatopening;SN =
Two more recent records are now known from snout to nam; SE = snout lo eye; SS = snout to
nearWoogarooCknearWacoL Brisbane(Nattrass spiracularopening; DF= max. depth ofdorsal fin;
&Ingram, 1993).Thisistheonlypublishedcoastal VF=max.depthofventral fin.
BW
locality so far for the species. However, in the In dorsal view = max. body width across
summer of 1993/1994 there have been further abdomen; EBW = width ofbody at level ofeyes;
records from Marsdcn. Karawatha, Beerwah and BTMW = max width oftail musculature at body
Nambour(G Ingram, pers. comrn.1 terminus; 10= inter-orbital span; IN = inter-narial
The present paper describes the only available span; EN =distance fromeyetonaris.
MW
embryoandlarval material. In ventral view = transverse width of oral
disc.
MATERIALS ANDMETHODS Illustrations were drawn using a drawing tube
attached tothestereoscopicmicroscope.
Thefollowingdescriptionisbasedonaneggmass
fromonepairoffrogscollectedby H.G. Coggeron Descriptionop Embryos
29October, 1972. The pairwas taken from beside The single female laid 556 eggs. It was not pos-
apermanentpond inapaddocknearOurimbahCk, sible to make observations on the form of theegg
Gosford NSW after heavy rain and amplcxus oc- mass, as a result ofdisturbance during transit. Ova
curred in a plastic bag. The eggs were laid during werealstage9whenfirstobservedon 1 November,
the evening of 30 October. Most embryos died in 1972.Oneembryopreservedarthisstagehadadark
transit One was preserved at stage 9, five at stage hrown animal pole, ofT-white vegetal pole and
17, one al stage 20 (just hatched), one tadpole at measured2.02mm in diameter.
MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLAND MUSEUM
tinct narial pits are fsuivll)
outlined with pigment.
There are three pairs ofex-
ternal gills; 3 branches on
theuppermostpair,7onthe
middle pair and 8 on the
lowest (Fig.lC). The tail
musculature ridges arc
developing and the fins are
translucent.
DescriptionofLarvae
The only larvae available
forstudy wereonespecimen
at stage 37 and one at stage
41. The former specimen
(Fig. 2) is described as fol-
lows:
Body ovoid in shape.
widest across mid-region of
abdomen. Snout broad and
truncate in dorsal view and
truncate in lateral view.
Naressmall, openingantero-
FIG. l.EmbryologicalstagesofLAr^ipa/mflm.A.eaTlysiagel^B^iage 18; laterally and outlined by a
C, stage20. Scalebars = 1mm. Etiyneesbolartdeerarl.ofAmeniaarnroopwhorricdsg.e
By 2030 on 1 November, the embryos had runs from from each eye to each naris. Spiracle
reached stage 17. The tail bud is bent in thisstage, sinistral, ventro-lateral, not visible from above,
making most measurements ofembryo length ap-
opening postero-dorsally, with tube diameter
proximate.
decreasing markedly from origin to opening.
Embryos preserved at early stage 17 (Fig.lA), Vent tubebroad, median in position and opening
have optic bulges, prominent gill plate bulges, a to a diamond-shape when expanded When
slight pronephricswellingandfine,closelyaligned
relaxed, the aperture has a *<' shape, with point
muscular ridges along the neural tube. There are
prominent U-shaped ventral suckersjoined by the of '<' directing anteriorly (Fig. 2C). Opposite
stomodaeal groove. The embryos are pale brown pointofdiamond-shapedopening(>) attached to
with a pale cream yolk sac. There are a small edgeofventral fin.
numberofmclanophores around the gill plate and Tail fins arched, tapering to a Fine point The
neural tube, and the ventral suckers are heavily dursal finextendsontothebodyuptothemid-point
pigmented. of the abdominal region (Fig. 2B) and in lateral
An embryo at stage 18 has very prominent gill view, fin is deepestjust anterior to its mid-point.
plate bulges (Tig. IB). The stomodaeal groove is Ventral fin marginally deepest anterior to its mid-
deeply furrowed, its rim protruding strongly for- point. Tail musculature deepest at body terminus,
ward. There is a small oral sucker at each corner. then narrows,before broadening slightly nearmid-
The optic bulge is quite indistinctand the tail fins
pointandtapering to afine flagellum.
are beginningtodevelop. The embryoisvery pale Oral discantero-ventral. bordered by small mar-
creaminpreservative.
ginal papillae around all but medial anteriorthird.
The first specimen hatched at stage 20 on 2 A small number of submarginal papillae present.
November,3daysaftertheeggswerelaid.Thelive
embryoisdarkgrey-brown withalightbrownyolk Labial teeth in two complete anterior and three
sac. The optic region is barely discernable and the complete posterior rows, each set approximately
oral suckersare prominent,being stilljoinedalong equal in length (Fig. 3). Keratinised jaw sheaths
the anterior edge of the stomodaeal groove, and narrow, with fine serrations along the somewhat
divided medially on the posterioredge. The indis- irregularinneredges,
LARVAL DEVELOPMENTOFUTORIABREV1PALMATA
above and below by fine line of pigment.
Specimen atstage41 has more pigmentovertail
and body, and body wall is slightly less trans-
lucent.
Ventral surface dark blue/grey over intestines
and anterior half translucent, with fine, diffuse
pigment.
Metamorphosis was reached on 26 December
1972, 57 days after the eggs were laid. One
specimenpreservedimmediatelyatstage46was
12.7mm in length and shows the uniform brown
of the adult over dorsum and limbs. The white
labialstripeispresentand thereisablackcanthal
stripe from tipofsnout toeye. A similarstripe is
just beginning in the post-orbital region above
• the tympanum. At X6 power, numerous scat-
tered, fine tubercles cover the dorsum. The
ventral surface is while. The green pigment
presentintheaxilla,groinandthighsoftheadult,
as yet has not developed.
DISCUSSION
Embryological Development
— Lbrevipalmata is unusual in possessing 3
pairs ofexternalgills. Only oneotherAustralian
hylid species has been described as having 3
FIG. 2. LarvaofLbrevipalmataatstage 37.A,dorsal pairs (Lchloris\ see Watson & Martin, 1979).
view;B,lateralviewshowingcreamintemarialpatch
visibleonlyinlife;C,ventralview.Scalebars= 1mm.
Larvae
Colour In Life The tadpole ofLbrevipalmata is the only len-
Dorso-lateral surface uniform dark brown, tic, nektonic Australian hylid species yet
withasmall cream patchonsnoutbetween nares describedaspossessingamedianventtube.Prior
(Fig, 2A). Dorsal surface of tail musculature to about stage 41, live tadpoles may be distin-
dark anteriorly, lightening posteriorly. guished from other sympatric ground-dwelling
Ventrolateral surface with a grey blue sheen.
Fins mostly transparent, with some light sandy
pigment along the tail musculature in lateral
view. Cream patch on snout barely distinguish-
able on specimen at stage 41.
Colour In Preservative
Dorsal surface of specimen at stage 37 dark
brown (darkest over the intestines), but cream
patch has disappeared. Tail musculature only
slightly lighter than body anteriorly, becoming
pale cream posteriorly- Hind limbs show some
patches ofmelanophores.
Ventro-lateral region over intestinal mass
mainlydark blue-grey, with partofintestineand
fore-limb visible. Remainder of body dark
brown,except fortranlucent regionaround vent.
Fins and musculature have fine dusky pigment
tdiofwfaursdesd obvoedryetnteirrmeinsuusr.facMeu,sciunlcarteausriengbosrlidgehrteldy FISGc.al3e.Mbaorul=hp1amrmt.sofLbrevipalmatalarvaatStage37.
1
MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
TABLE 1. Measurementsinmm. A,embryos;B.larvae; Stephen J. Richards and Jean-Marc Hero of the
C,metamorphosis. Department ofZoology, James Cook University
forhelpfulsuggestions on the manuscript
A.Embryos
Stage 4o Diameter LITERATURECITED
9 1 2.02
17 5 2.7(2.59-2.88) ALTIG, R. 1970. A key to the tadpoles ofthe United
IS 1 3.32 StatesandCanada. Herpetologica26: 180-207.
20 1 5.33 ANSTIS, M. 1976. Breeding biology and larval
BLa.teLraarlvaVeie(Swpecinrw?nsperStsatgaege37= 1j Stage41 d(Aenvuerla.oHpymleindate). TorfansacLtiitoonrsiaofvtehrereRuouyxail
SocietyofSouth Australia 100: 193-202,
TX 28.9 29.4 BARKER, J. & GRIGG, G. 1977. 'A field gu.de lo
K.i J1.53 10.66 Australian frogs' (Rigby: Adelaide).
BD 6.23 5 9 COGGER, H.G. 1975. 'Reptiles and amphibians of
TD 6.72 6.07 Australia', (Rccd; Sydney).
TM 2.13 2.13 CZECHURA, O.C 1978, A new locality for Litoria
BTD 5.74 NA brevipalmata (Anura: Pelodryadidaej from
Soulh-Eastern Queensland. Victorian Naturalist
BTM 2.79 2.62 95: 150 151.
E 1.48 1.48 GOSNER, K.L. 1960. A simplified table for staging
S 0.66 0.57 anuran embryos and larvae with notes on iden-
SN 0.82 0.49 MARTtIifNi,catAio.nA..H,erLpHetToLloEgJiOcaHN16,: 1M8J3-.19&0.RAVVLIN-
SE 2.29 1.97 SON, P.A. 1966. A key to anuran eggs of the
SS 6.16 5.9 Melbourne area, and an addition to the anuran
DF 2.54 2.79 fauna. Victorian Naturalist83: 312-314.
-./, : 46 1.97 McDIaAbRuMfoInDi,d aRn.dW.twAoLThIylGi,dRt.ad1p9o8l9e.sDfersocmriWpetisotneronf
Dorsal View
BW Ecuador. Alytes8: 51-60.
t>.4 6.23 McDONALD, K.R. 1974. Utor'ux brevipalmata. An
EBW 6J5 5.9 addition to the Queensland amphibian list. Her-
BTMW 2.62 1.97 petotauna7 (1): 2-4.
lO 3.61 3.61 mcevoy,J.S., Mcdonald,k,r.&searle, a k
1979.Mammals,birds,reptilesandamphibiansof
IN 1 48 1.31 the Kilcoy Shire, Queensland. Queensland Jour-
EN i.S 1.81 nal ofAgriculture and Animal Sciences 36: 167-
Ventral View 180.
MW 271 Z.3Q NATTRASS, A.E.O. & INGRAM. GJ. 1993. New
C. Metamorphosis Specimenspeistage=H roefctohredsQuoefedniselaranrdeMGureseenu-tmhi33g:he3d48f.rog. Memoirs
Stage46 TYLER, M.J., CROOK. G.A. & DAVIES, M. 1983.
TL 12.7 Reproductive biology ofdie frogs ofdie Magela
Creek system. NorthernTerritory. Recordsofthe
hylidspeciessuchasLfreycineti,Llatopalmata SouthAustralian Museum 18: 415-440.
(Anstis, unpubl.), Lnasuta (see Tyler et al., TYLER, M. J. & DAVIES, M. 1978. Species groups
1983) and L. lesueuri(seeMartinetal., 1966)by within the Australopapuan hylid frog genus
a combination of a uniform dark brown body Litoria Tschudi. Australian Journal ofZoology,
colour,asmallcreampatchon thesnout, median Supplementary Series63: 1-47.
venttubeopeningandtwounbroken anteriorrows TYLER19,72M..JA.,neMwARspTeIciNe,s oAf.hAy.li&d fWroAgTfSrOomN,N.SG..WF,.
oflabialteeth. Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SouthWales97: 82-86.
WATSON, G.F. & MARTIN, A.A. 1979. Early
development ofthe Australian green hylid frogs
Acknowledgement is made to the Australian Litoria chloris, Lfallax and Lqraaktm
Museum for the loan of specimens, and to Australian Zoolologist20(2): 259-268.