Observations on metamorphosing tadpoles of Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae)

Observações sobre girinos de Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae) em metamorfose. A metamorfose, processo em que os anfíbios anuros reabsorvem suas caudas e remodelam suas partes bucais e órgãos internos, é um estágio vulnerável de sua história de vida. Durante a transformação de larvas em adultos, os girinos não estão bem adaptados à vida aquática nem à vida terrestre ativa. Estudos anteriores examinaram a duração da metamorfose em diversas espécies com relação ao tamanho do girino, habitat e outros fatores; entretanto, a duração da metamorfose em relação ao local onde esta ocorre não foi relatada pantrolenídeos. Em Hyalinobatrachium orientale, a metamorfose ocorre nas superfícies superiores das folhas das plantas de sub-bosque baixo e dura de 3,5 a 4,0 dias, um pouco mais do que o esperado para um girino desse tamanho de corpo. Os indivíduos recém-metamorfoseados parecem mudar seus poleiros de folha para folha aleatoriamente. Não há diferenças significativas na temperatura ou umidade relativa das superfícies superior e inferior das folhas no sub-bosque da floresta; assim, o uso das superfícies superiores das folhas pode fornecer-lhes umidade da vegetação do estrato superior após as chuvas e protegê-los de predadores terrestres.Observations on metamorphosing tadpoles of Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae). Metamorphosis, when anuran amphibians resorb their tails and remodel their mouthparts and internal organs, is a vulnerable stage in the frog’s life history. As larvae metamorphose from tadpoles to adult frogs, they are neither suited to aquatic life nor ready for active terrestrial life. Previous studies have examined the duration of metamorphosis in a range of species, with respect to tadpole size, habitat, and other factors; however, the duration of metamorphosis relative to where it takes place has not been reported in centrolenids. In Hyalinobatrachium orientale, metamorphosis takes place on the upper surfaces of the leaves of low understory plants and lasts 3.5–4.0 days, a little longer than expected for the tadpole of this body size. Metamorphs seem to shift their perches from leaf to leaf randomly. There are no significant differences in the temperature or relative humidity of the upper and lower surfaces of leaves in the forest understory; thus, the presence of the metamorphs on the upper surfaces of leaves may provide moisture from the upper story vegetation after rain and protect them from terrestrial predators

Observations on metamorphosing tadpoles of Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae)

Observations on metamorphosing tadpoles of Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae). Metamorphosis, when anuran amphibians resorb their tails and remodel their mouthparts and internal organs, is a vulnerable stage in the frog’s life history. As larvae metamorphose from tadpoles to adult frogs, they are neither suited to aquatic life nor ready for active terrestrial life. Previous studies have examined the duration of metamorphosis in a range of species, with respect to tadpole size, habitat, and other factors; however, the duration of metamorphosis relative to where it takes place has not been reported in centrolenids. In Hyalinobatrachium orientale, metamorphosis takes place on the upper surfaces of the leaves of low understory plants and lasts 3.5–4.0 days, a little longer than expected for the tadpole of this body size. Metamorphs seem to shift their perches from leaf to leaf randomly. There are no significant differences in the temperature or relative humidity of the upper and lower surfaces of leaves in the forest understory; thus, the presence of the metamorphs on the upper surfaces of leaves may provide moisture from the upper story vegetation after rain and protect them from terrestrial predators