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CHONDROCRANIUM FEATURES OF FROG LARVAE OF THE GENUS PHYSALAEMUS (Anura: Leiuperidae) AND THEIR RELATIVES Diogo B. Provete UNESP-São Paulo, Brazil Punta del Este July 2010

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Introduction <ul><li>The Family Leiuperidae </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Phylogenetic position, relationships, diagnosis </li></ul></ul>

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Grant et al. 2006

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Grant et al. 2006

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Introduction <ul><li>The genus Physalaemus and other related genera </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Eupemphix , Engystomops </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Pleurodema , Pseudopaludicola , Edalorhina , Somuncuria </li></ul></ul>

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McDiarmid & Altig, 1999

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Engystomops Physalaemus Pseudopaludicola Edalorhina Pleurodema Eupemphix

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Aim <ul><li>To make a character survey concerning chondrocrania of Physalaemus larvae in a way that allows it to be further included in the diagnosis of the genus </li></ul>

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Material and Methods <ul><li>Species analyzed: Physalaemus jordanensis, P. olfersii, P. latestriga, P. barrioi, P. cuvieri, P. centralis, P. marmoratus, P. moreirae, P. henseli, P. riograndensis, P. atlanticus, P. gracilis , Eupemphix nattereri , Pseudopaludicola sp. (aff. falcipes ) </li></ul><ul><li>Data from the literature: Physalaemus fernandezae , P. santafecinus, P. cuqui , P. biligonigerus, Pleurodema tucumana, P. borellii </li></ul><ul><li>Clear and stained following Taylor & Van Dyke (1985) </li></ul><ul><li>Material anayzed: DZSJRP-Tadpoles, CFBH </li></ul>

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Results P. santafecinus P. fernandezae Vera Candioti, 2007 Alcalde et al. , 2006

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Results Fabrezi & Vera, 1997 P. cuqui P. biligonigerus

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Results Fabrezi & Vera, 1997 P. tucumana P. borelli

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Results P. moreirae

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Results P. barrioi

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Results P. jordanensis

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Results P. centralis

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Results P. marmoratus

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Results P. olfersii

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Results P. centralis

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Results E. nattereri

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Discussion <ul><li>General features of chondrocranium of Physalaemus : </li></ul><ul><ul><li>(1) suprarostral bearing a V- or U-shaped corpora, which is dorsally connected to the alae, the alae always bear a precessus anterioris; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>(2) basihyal absent; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>(3) basibranchial with short processus urobranchial; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>(4) processus anterior branchialis absent; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>(5) cornua trabeculae long and uniformily wide. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>(6) The neurocranium usually longer than wide and depressed. </li></ul></ul>

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Discussion <ul><li>General features of chondrocranium of Engystomops and Pleurodema : </li></ul><ul><ul><li>the corpus of the suprarostral is fused ventrally to the alae; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>The processus branchialis is only common in Pleurodema </li></ul></ul><ul><li>In Eupemphix larvae, this character is similar to the Physalaemus condition. </li></ul>

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Discussion <ul><li>Comparison among leiuperid tadpoles </li></ul><ul><li>Comparison with Leptodactylus </li></ul><ul><li>Less variation => all pond-type tadpoles, differently from Leptodactylus </li></ul>

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Larson & De Sá, 1998 Leptodactylus Carnivorous (e.g., L. pentadactylus ) Lentic-benthic (e.g., L. fuscus ) Nidicolous (e.g., L. gr. marmoratus ) Semiterrestrial Physalaemus Lentic-benthic

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Conclusion <ul><li>Its utility in phylogenetic reconstruction => among genera and families </li></ul><ul><li>Leiuperidae=> chondrocranium => morphological synapomorphy </li></ul>

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Acknowledgements <ul><li>Lilian Franco Belussi => photos, along with continuous support and suggestions </li></ul><ul><li>Denise de C. Rossa-Feres => chemicals, work space, and access to collection </li></ul>Grant # 011/2010