A Comparative Study of Buccal Volumes and the Branchial Skeleton of Rana ridibunda and R. dalmatina Tadpoles

Differences in the branchial skeleton during the ontogenesis of Rana ridibunda and R. dalmatina tadpoles are described, and buccal volumes are calculated for these larvae based on Wassersug and Hoff's geometric model. The major anatomical differences between both species are in the cartilage of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Copeia 1990-09, Vol.1990 (3), p.658-665
Main Authors: Pelaz, Manuel Polls, Rougier, Claude
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Anatomy
Freshwater
Larvae
Polls
Pumping
Pumps
Rana
Rana dalmatina
Rana ridibunda
Skeleton
Skull
Species
Tadpoles
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Description
Summary:Differences in the branchial skeleton during the ontogenesis of Rana ridibunda and R. dalmatina tadpoles are described, and buccal volumes are calculated for these larvae based on Wassersug and Hoff's geometric model. The major anatomical differences between both species are in the cartilage of the branchial baskets, the ceratobranchials. At premetamorphic Stage 40 (TL, 35-40 mm) branchial cartilages in R. dalmatina tadpoles are more ramified than in R. ridibunda. Buccal pumping volumes, however, are similar for these two species at this stage, i.e., around 8 μl/pump for maximal contraction of the depressor muscles of the buccal floor. Based on this figure, these tadpoles pump one liter of water each day. The functional anatomy of the buccal pumping apparatus of both R. ridibunda and R. dalmatina tadpoles is compared with other anuran species with different filtration capabilities.
ISSN:0045-8511
1938-5110
DOI:10.2307/1446431