Morphometric growth characteristics and body composition of bullfrog tadpoles in captivity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Moulting behavior in leaf-frogs of the genus phyllomedusa (Anura : hylidae)

The species belonging to the subfamily Phyllomedusinae presents physiological and behavioral adaptations to economise water such as secretion of lipids coupled with its spreading onto the skin surface through a complex behavior, adoption of diurnal torpor and secretion of uric acid. Here we describe other adaptation probably involved with water economy, registered in Phyllomedusa distincta, P. tarsius, P. tetraploidea and natural hybrids of P. distincta and P. tetraploidea - at dusk, these amphibians perform an elaborate moulting behavior that encompasses the cleaning of the body with the limbs plus gaping and body contractions. Our data show the daily moulting in P. distincta and suggest that the same mechanism occurs for the other species studied. We suppose that daily moulting improves the skin permeability to water being a characteristic of the phyllomedusines which spread lipids onto the skin surface.

Anuran skin and basking behavior: the case of the treefrog Bokermannohyla alvarengai (Bokermann, 1956)

We investigated the morphology of the skin and the biochemistry of the lipids in the skin secretion of Bokermannohyla alvarengai, a montane treefrog that is known to bask regularly, motionless in full sunlight for extended periods of time. Our primary goal was to identify structural and biochemical modifications that might assist this frog species to accommodate the conflicting demands for heat exchange and water balance while basking. The modulation of heat exchange in basking B. alvarengai involves changes in skin coloration. We found that this response was supported by a prominent monolayer of large iridophores, whose light reflectance property is adjusted by the response of intervening melanophores. Mucosubstances and lipid compounds, mainly consisted of saturated fatty acids and presumably secreted from granular glands, were detected on the skin of B. alvarengai. These compounds formed an extra-epidermal layer over the animal's dorsal surface that might assist in the prevention of excessive water loss through evaporation. Additionally, we found well-developed skin folds at the ventral region of the frogs that lead to an increment of surface area. This feature combined with the extensive hypervascularization, also noticed for the skin of B. alvarengai, may play an important role in water reabsorption. The suite of structural and biochemical modifications identified for the integument of B. alvarengai seems to conjugate aspects relevant to both, heat exchange and water balance, allowing for this species to explore basking as an efficient thermoregulatory strategy. J. Morphol. 276:1172-1182, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Median lethal concentration of formaldehyde and its genotoxic potential in bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus)

In order to avoid that contaminated frog farms animals escaping in the environment and become potential vector of emergent diseases, studies with disinfection protocol are strictly necessary. The formaldehyde is one of the compounds tested in fungal disinfection protocols and also used in aquaculture. This study aimed to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50-96h) of formaldehyde in bullfrog tadpoles and to evaluate the possible genotoxic effects in acute exposition. Accordingly, the animals were exposed to formaldehyde in the concentrations of 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 mg L(-1), and after 96 h blood samples were drawn for the micronucleus (MN) test. The LC50-96h was 10.53 mg L(-1), and the MN frequency increased in proportion to the formaldehyde concentrations, with an estimated frequency in the negative control being 1.35 MN/individual. We concluded that formaldehyde is genotoxic to tadpoles of bullfrogs in the tested concentrations, and the choice of this chemical should be contemplated before its use in animals in captivity.

Uso de wetland construído no tratamento de efluente de ranicultura

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Automação do fornecimento de ração para organismos aquáticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biologia reprodutiva de Hypsiboas lundii (Anura, Hylidae) em um fragmento de Cerrado no sudoeste de Minas Gerais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Testes oftálmicos, biometria ocular e cálculo do poder dióptrico da lente em corujas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos da alta temperatura na pigmentação visceral e no epitélio germinativo masculino em Physalaemus nattereri e Leptodactylus fuscus (Anura)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Recria de Rã touro (Rana catesbeiana) em tanques-rede alojados em viveiros de tilápia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência da escala espacial na diversidade beta de anuros considerando diferentes ecoregiões da Mata Atlântica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)