The Tadpole of Scinax cretatus (Hylidae: Scinaxini)
Scinax is one of the most speciose genera within the family Hylidae, comprising 13 species groups. The S. auratus group includes eight valid species, all of which occur in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In this study, we describe the tadpole of S. cretatus, including descriptions of its buccopharyngeal and chondrocranial morphology. The larvae of S. cretatus differ from those of most species in the S. auratus group by lacking a labial arm in the oral disc. Morphology of the buccopharyngeal and chondrocranial structures provides further valuable information about the larval anatomy of the species. Scinax é um dos gêneros mais especiosos dentro da família Hylidae, compreendendo 13 grupos de espécies. O grupo S. auratus inclui oito espécies válidas, todas ocorrendo na Mata Atlântica brasileira. Neste estudo, descrevemos o girino de S. cretatus, incluindo descrições da morfologia bucofaríngea e do condrocrânio. As larvas de S. cretatus diferem da maioria das espécies do grupo S. auratus por não possuírem um braço labial no disco oral. A morfologia das estruturas bucofaríngeas e do condrocrânio fornece informações adicionais valiosas sobre a anatomia larval da espécie.Abstract
Resumo
A permanent pond on Sapinho Island, in municipality of Maraú, state of Bahia, Brazil, where tadpoles of Scinax cretatus were collected.
Tadpole of Scinax cretatus in preservative (stage 36, lot MZUESC 21093). (A) Lateral, (B) dorsal, and (C) ventral views of the body. Scale bar = 24 mm.
Morphological structures of the tadpole of Scinax cretatus (stage 37, lot MZUESC 21093). (A) Left nostril. (B) Spiracle in lateral view. (C) Vent tube in lateral view. (D) and (E) Oral disc. Scale bars = 0.5 mm (A and B) and 1 mm (C–E).
Lateral line system of Scinax cretatus (stage 36, lot MZUESC 21093). (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of the body. Abbreviations: D, dorsal line; IO, infraorbital line; M, middle body line; PSO, posterior supraorbital line; SO, supraorbital line; V, ventral body line. Scale bar = 24 mm.
Tadpole of Scinax cretatus in life (stage 39, lot MZUESC 20455). (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of the body. Scale bar = 24 mm.
Buccopharyngeal cavity of a tadpole of Scinax cretatus (stage 37, lot MZUESC 21093). (A) Buccal floor and (B) Buccal roof. Abbreviations: bfa, buccal floor arena; bfp, buccal floor arena papillae; bp, buccal pocket; bra, buccal roof arena; c, choanae; dv, dorsal velum; ip, infralabial papillae; lrop, lateral ridge papillae; mr, median ridge; ptp, postnarial papillae; vv, ventral velum.
Chondrocranium and hyobranchial apparatus of the tadpole of Scinax cretatus. (A) Chondrocranium in dorsal view, (B) Chondrocranium in ventral view, (C) Chondrocranium in lateral view, (D) cartilago suprarostralis, and (E) hyobranchial apparatus. Abbreviations: as, arcus subocularis; ca, condylus articularis; cb, ceratobranchialis; ch, ceratohial; ci, cartilago infrarostralis; cm, cartilago Meckeli; cp, copula posterior; cqa, commissura quadratocranialis anterior; cs, cartilago suprarostralis; ct, cornua trabeculae; cI, copula anterior; fah, facies articularis hyalis; fcp, foramen caroticum primarium; fcrp, foramen craniopalatinum; fj, foramen jugulare; fo, foramen opticum; fom, foramen oculomotorium; fpo, foramen prooticum; h, hypobranchiale; nc, notochordal canal; oc, otic capsule; pa, pars alaris; pad, processus anterior dorsalis; pah, processus anterior hyalis; palh, processus anterolateralis hyalis; paq, pars articularis quadrati; pas, processus ascendens; pc, pars corporis; pl, processus lateralis posterior; plh, processus lateralis hyalis; plt, processus lateralis trabeculae; pm, processus muscularis quadrati; pol. processus oticus larval; ppd, processus posterior dorsalis; pph, processus posterior hyalis; ppv, processus posterior ventralis; pr, pars reuniens; pu, processus urobranchialis; s, spicule; tp, tectum parientalis.
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