Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina

Autores
Velasco, Melina Alicia; Úbeda, Carmen A.; Williams, Jorge Daniel; Kacoliris, Federico Pablo
Año de publicación
2017
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Amphibians exhibit a great diversity of reproductive modes. Nevertheless, reproductive biology is still unknown for several threatened Neotropical species, including the Critically Endangered microendemic Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense. This paper looks at the reproductive biology of this species, describes its behavior, amplexus, spawning, clutches, embryonic development and breeding microhabitats, and discusses differences and similarities between it and the other Patagonian species included in the P. thaul clade: P. bufoninum and P. thaul. Fieldwork was conducted from 2013–2015 in the headwaters of Valcheta Stream (northern Patagonia, Argentina), over the whole known range of P. somuncurense. We also added information from an ex situ survival colony of this species. Pleurodema somuncurense has prolonged seasonal reproductive activity during spring–summer and presents features of both explosive and prolonged breeders. The Patagonian species of the P. thaul clade all have inguinal amplexus and lay pigmented eggs in gelatinous strings. During inguinal amplexus, the male P. somuncurense arches its body, bringing its vent closer to the female’s, while contracting its body muscles rhythmically and moving its pelvic girdle up and down while the female spawns the eggs. We occasionally recorded mating calls, release calls, and warning vibrations. Although there are similarities among the three species, P. somuncurense has some specific features, such as scramble competition, which has not yet been recorded for any other species in the genus, and the mating call, although better records in natural conditions are needed for detailed analysis and more robust comparison. Because the breeding microhabitats used by P. somuncurense are currently under disturbance from livestock, their protection should be a matter of concern.
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo
Materia
Zoología
Clutches
Pleurodema bufoninum
Pleurodema thaul
Reproductive behavior
Reproductive pattern
Somuncura Plateau
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
SEDICI (UNLP)
Institución
Universidad Nacional de La Plata
OAI Identificador
oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/118754

id SEDICI_d7585f814115eb832b723b94913e68ec
oai_identifier_str oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/118754
network_acronym_str SEDICI
repository_id_str 1329
network_name_str SEDICI (UNLP)
spelling Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, ArgentinaVelasco, Melina AliciaÚbeda, Carmen A.Williams, Jorge DanielKacoliris, Federico PabloZoologíaClutchesPleurodema bufoninumPleurodema thaulReproductive behaviorReproductive patternSomuncura PlateauAmphibians exhibit a great diversity of reproductive modes. Nevertheless, reproductive biology is still unknown for several threatened Neotropical species, including the Critically Endangered microendemic Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense. This paper looks at the reproductive biology of this species, describes its behavior, amplexus, spawning, clutches, embryonic development and breeding microhabitats, and discusses differences and similarities between it and the other Patagonian species included in the P. thaul clade: P. bufoninum and P. thaul. Fieldwork was conducted from 2013–2015 in the headwaters of Valcheta Stream (northern Patagonia, Argentina), over the whole known range of P. somuncurense. We also added information from an ex situ survival colony of this species. Pleurodema somuncurense has prolonged seasonal reproductive activity during spring–summer and presents features of both explosive and prolonged breeders. The Patagonian species of the P. thaul clade all have inguinal amplexus and lay pigmented eggs in gelatinous strings. During inguinal amplexus, the male P. somuncurense arches its body, bringing its vent closer to the female’s, while contracting its body muscles rhythmically and moving its pelvic girdle up and down while the female spawns the eggs. We occasionally recorded mating calls, release calls, and warning vibrations. Although there are similarities among the three species, P. somuncurense has some specific features, such as scramble competition, which has not yet been recorded for any other species in the genus, and the mating call, although better records in natural conditions are needed for detailed analysis and more robust comparison. Because the breeding microhabitats used by P. somuncurense are currently under disturbance from livestock, their protection should be a matter of concern.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo2017info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionArticulohttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdf205–211http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/118754enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/1808-9798info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/1982-355Xinfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.2994/SAJH-D-16-00049.1info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)reponame:SEDICI (UNLP)instname:Universidad Nacional de La Platainstacron:UNLP2025-09-03T11:00:05Zoai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/118754Institucionalhttp://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/Universidad públicaNo correspondehttp://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/oai/snrdalira@sedici.unlp.edu.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:13292025-09-03 11:00:06.162SEDICI (UNLP) - Universidad Nacional de La Platafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
title Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
spellingShingle Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
Velasco, Melina Alicia
Zoología
Clutches
Pleurodema bufoninum
Pleurodema thaul
Reproductive behavior
Reproductive pattern
Somuncura Plateau
title_short Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
title_full Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
title_fullStr Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
title_sort Reproductive Biology of the Critically Endangered Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Patagonia, Argentina
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Velasco, Melina Alicia
Úbeda, Carmen A.
Williams, Jorge Daniel
Kacoliris, Federico Pablo
author Velasco, Melina Alicia
author_facet Velasco, Melina Alicia
Úbeda, Carmen A.
Williams, Jorge Daniel
Kacoliris, Federico Pablo
author_role author
author2 Úbeda, Carmen A.
Williams, Jorge Daniel
Kacoliris, Federico Pablo
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Zoología
Clutches
Pleurodema bufoninum
Pleurodema thaul
Reproductive behavior
Reproductive pattern
Somuncura Plateau
topic Zoología
Clutches
Pleurodema bufoninum
Pleurodema thaul
Reproductive behavior
Reproductive pattern
Somuncura Plateau
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Amphibians exhibit a great diversity of reproductive modes. Nevertheless, reproductive biology is still unknown for several threatened Neotropical species, including the Critically Endangered microendemic Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense. This paper looks at the reproductive biology of this species, describes its behavior, amplexus, spawning, clutches, embryonic development and breeding microhabitats, and discusses differences and similarities between it and the other Patagonian species included in the P. thaul clade: P. bufoninum and P. thaul. Fieldwork was conducted from 2013–2015 in the headwaters of Valcheta Stream (northern Patagonia, Argentina), over the whole known range of P. somuncurense. We also added information from an ex situ survival colony of this species. Pleurodema somuncurense has prolonged seasonal reproductive activity during spring–summer and presents features of both explosive and prolonged breeders. The Patagonian species of the P. thaul clade all have inguinal amplexus and lay pigmented eggs in gelatinous strings. During inguinal amplexus, the male P. somuncurense arches its body, bringing its vent closer to the female’s, while contracting its body muscles rhythmically and moving its pelvic girdle up and down while the female spawns the eggs. We occasionally recorded mating calls, release calls, and warning vibrations. Although there are similarities among the three species, P. somuncurense has some specific features, such as scramble competition, which has not yet been recorded for any other species in the genus, and the mating call, although better records in natural conditions are needed for detailed analysis and more robust comparison. Because the breeding microhabitats used by P. somuncurense are currently under disturbance from livestock, their protection should be a matter of concern.
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo
description Amphibians exhibit a great diversity of reproductive modes. Nevertheless, reproductive biology is still unknown for several threatened Neotropical species, including the Critically Endangered microendemic Valcheta frog, Pleurodema somuncurense. This paper looks at the reproductive biology of this species, describes its behavior, amplexus, spawning, clutches, embryonic development and breeding microhabitats, and discusses differences and similarities between it and the other Patagonian species included in the P. thaul clade: P. bufoninum and P. thaul. Fieldwork was conducted from 2013–2015 in the headwaters of Valcheta Stream (northern Patagonia, Argentina), over the whole known range of P. somuncurense. We also added information from an ex situ survival colony of this species. Pleurodema somuncurense has prolonged seasonal reproductive activity during spring–summer and presents features of both explosive and prolonged breeders. The Patagonian species of the P. thaul clade all have inguinal amplexus and lay pigmented eggs in gelatinous strings. During inguinal amplexus, the male P. somuncurense arches its body, bringing its vent closer to the female’s, while contracting its body muscles rhythmically and moving its pelvic girdle up and down while the female spawns the eggs. We occasionally recorded mating calls, release calls, and warning vibrations. Although there are similarities among the three species, P. somuncurense has some specific features, such as scramble competition, which has not yet been recorded for any other species in the genus, and the mating call, although better records in natural conditions are needed for detailed analysis and more robust comparison. Because the breeding microhabitats used by P. somuncurense are currently under disturbance from livestock, their protection should be a matter of concern.
publishDate 2017
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2017
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Articulo
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/118754
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/118754
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/1808-9798
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/1982-355X
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.2994/SAJH-D-16-00049.1
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
205–211
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:SEDICI (UNLP)
instname:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
instacron:UNLP
reponame_str SEDICI (UNLP)
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
instname_str Universidad Nacional de La Plata
instacron_str UNLP
institution UNLP
repository.name.fl_str_mv SEDICI (UNLP) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata
repository.mail.fl_str_mv alira@sedici.unlp.edu.ar
_version_ 1842260495384444928
score 13.13397