The Herpetological Journal

pp. 99-109

Authors: V. Siammawii, F. Malsawmdawngliana, K. Lalchhandama, P.B. Lalthanpuii & H.T. Lalremsanga

Abstract: The structure of oral apparatus and the morphology of anuran tadpoles are important for species identification. The amount of data on different aspects of biodiversity, including life history traits, has been poorly studied. With the complexity in the life cycle of anurans, our understanding in this group has been mostly lopsided, with much emphasis given on the adult forms, further begging the need to study anuran larval characters. The present study shows that tadpoles of Polypedates braueri have an elongated broadly ovoid body, special oral characteristics where mouth positioned anteroventral and a small white patch visible on the tip of snout. They are nektonic, having high tail fin and the tail musculature accounting for 52% of height of tail. The keratodont jaw starts developing at stage 25. Labial papillae and beak disappearing by stage 42. The lower jaw sheath has ‘V’ shaped and upper jaw sheath has ‘M’ shaped arch with finely serrated edge, black in colour. Polypedates braueri show different labial tooth row formula (LTRF) at different Gosner stages of their development. The LTRF at Gosner stage 25 is 3(2–3)/3; between stage 26–34 are 4(2–4)/3 or 4(2–4)/3(1); and between 35 and 41 LTRF changes to 5(2–5)/3, 5(2–5)/3(1) or 4(2–4)/3.

Keywords: mouthparts, anura, LTRF, larvae, Rhacophoridae

pp. 110-115

Authors: Kimberley C. Carter, David J. Gower, Mark Wilkinson & Benjamin Tapley

Abstract: Photographic identification and pattern-matching techniques are increasingly used for minimally invasive identification of individual amphibians. However, many caecilian species lack obvious, distinctive patterns or colourations (as well as limbs) which makes visual identification challenging. We used photographic records and Wild-ID to investigate the use of cloacal discs and surrounding annular grooves for individual identification in a captive population of Herpele squalostoma at ZSL London Zoo and compare similarity with preserved specimens. We photographed seven captive H. squalostoma over a maximum period of 59 months and 43 preserved museum specimens. We found that Wild-ID analysis of photographs is not viable for individual identification of this species. However, our results showed that the software could distinguish between animals, scoring >0 (0 = no match, 1 = perfect match) for photographs of the same live animal. However, the software did not reliably recognise individuals over time; where photographs were matched against the same animal from different dates the mean scores fell below the threshold of 0.1 (mean score of photographs with annular grooves present = 0.00397825; mean score of photographs of cloacal disc only = 0.0213814). When comparing a subset of all museum specimen photographs the similarity score was very low (mean = 0.00039712), however preservation quality and size differences may have confounded our results and made the scores unreliable. A photograph-matching survey performed by zoological and biological research professionals proved that H. squalostoma can be identified by direct inspection of photographs of the cloacal disc region (n = 82, mean = 60% correct, SD = 34%, median = 71%). Although Wild-ID is not a valid method for long-term identification based on the cloacal disc region, distinctive differences are visible to the eye and suitable for photographic identification in small, captive populations and thus may be beneficial to ex-situ populations of caecilians.

Keywords: amphibian, identification, pattern, photographic, non-invasive

pp. 110-115

Authors: Kimberley C. Carter, David J. Gower, Mark Wilkinson & Benjamin Tapley

pp. 116-126

Authors: Mariana Baraquet, Favio E. Pollo, Pablo R. Grenat, Manuel A. Otero & Adolfo L. Martino

Abstract: We compare the acoustic, morphometric and life history traits of three species from the Boana pulchella group in central Argentina; B. pulchella, B. cordobae and B. riojana, with the aim of contributing to their taxonomic status and natural history. We provide information on the spectral and temporal features of the advertisement calls of each species. The three species showed significant differences in all acoustics variables: most of the call properties of B. pulchella exhibited lower values, except for frequencies, which had higher values. Morphometric variables and age were positively correlated in the three species, showing significant differences among them, with males of B. riojana being larger and B. pulchella being smaller in size. The minimum age at sexual maturity (2 years) was the same in the three species. The other life history variables (average age, longevity, potential reproductive lifespan, modal age) differed significantly: B. riojana showed lower values and B. cordobae the highest values. The growth coefficient was higher in B. cordobae and lower in B. pulchella. The maximum asymptotic size is higher in B. riojana and lower in B. pulchella, but the differences are not significant. Our results provide elements for the specific recognition of these three species and valuable information for taxonomic and phylogenetic approaches that help explain evolutionary and ecological phenomena.

Keywords: advertisement call, age, Boana, body size, growth