The release call of Rhinella bernardoi (Anura: Bufonidae)

Rhinella bernardoi belongs to the Rhinella granulosus group, of which species are characterized by explosive breeding events which make it difficult to obtain recordings of their advertisement call. As an alternative, it has been proposed that recordings of release calls can be used to differentiate between species. Here we describe the structure of the release call of R. bernardoi. Five males were stimulated by false axillary amplexus, upon which their release call was recorded for one minute. Rhinella bernardoi produces short and straight calls (n = 11 ± 2.3). The duration of the call ranged between 2.2-5.2 ms. Pulse length ranged between 0.13-0.4 ms. Comparative studies of related species within the Rhinella granulosus group are needed to determine the taxonomic value of the release call.Fil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; Argentin

Infestation of the Torrent Catfish (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) by an Exotic Crustacean (Copepoda, Lernaeidae) in Andean Mountains of Argentina

Objective: This study reports the presence of a copepod, affecting adults of the torrent catfish in a tributary of the San Juan River in the southern part of South America. Materials and methods: The fish (48.1-54.1 mm standard length) were collected in Los Bretes, San Juan province, Argentina. They were anesthetized, fixed in formalin, preserved in ethanol and deposited in the Ichthyological Collection of the FACEN. Results: Three torrent catfish (Trichomycterus corduvensis) examined were infested with nine copepod parasites (Lernaea cyprinacea), which were attached to the gill, urogenital opening, and base pectoral fin. Conclusion: According to our results, this is the first record of parasitism of Lernaea on the torrent catfish (T. corduvensis) and a new locality from the Andean Mountains of Argentina.Fil: Fernandez, Luis Alfredo. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Pathogenic fungus in feral populations of the invasive North American bullfrog in Argentina

Nearly a third (32.4%) of the world?s amphibian species are either threatened with extinction or already extinct (1). The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) (Chytridiomycetes: Ryzophydiales) (2) has been recognized as responsible for mass mortalities or population extinctions of numerous anuran species in different continents (e.g., 3,4,5 and citations therein). There is evidence that legal and illegal trade in amphibians as pets, food and for bio-control is one of the reasons for the spread of Bd (6,7,8,9).The North American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802) (Anura: Ranidae), has been introduced accidentally or intentionally for aquaculture into numerous countries (10). L. catesbeianus is a highly invasive species that disperses rapidly within an ecosystem (11). The oldest report of specimens of L. catesbeianus parasitized by Bd dates from 1928, and corresponds to individuals from the State of California, USA (12). Bullfrogs can be asymptomatically infected with Bd (13), and infected specimens can readily spread the disease into new geographic regions (14).Initial unsuccessful attempts to introduce bullfrogs into Argentina for farming date from 1935. A subsequent successful introduction occurred during the 1980s (10,15). Escaped individuals became established and the species spread rapidly (16). Nevertheless assessments of the presence of Bd in feral bullfrogs from Argentina are lacking (17,18).Fil: Ghirardi, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Javier Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Levy, Michael G.. University of North Carolina; Estados Unido

Spermatogenesis and plasma testosterone levels under field conditions, in males of the common toad (Rhinella arenarum Hensel, 1867), from the Monte Desert, Argentina

The reproductive function in anurans depends on interactions between the hypothalamus, adenohypophysis and gonads, which are mediated by an endocrine circuit. We studied the relationship between reproductive and histological parameters, variation in spermatogenic activity, and plasma testosterone concentration cycle for a population of Rhinella arenarum under field conditions in the Monte Desert of Argentina. We captured 28 adult male R. arenarum from December 2009 to November 2010, and define two seasons (wet and dry seasons). We performed histological analyses of the testes and used radioimmunoassay to determine plasma testosterone concentrations. Our results showed no difference in testicular volume between the wet and dry seasons, but found that changes in the fat body mass were higher in the dry season. The spematogenic cycle was characterized by the prominent presence of spermatogonia at the end of the dry season and the wet season. We also observed a higher percentage of primary spermatocytes in the wet season. In addition, we found that R. arenarum showed a continuous spermatogenic cycle, and spermatogenesis produced a high percentage of sperm bundles in the dry season, concordant with high levels of testosterone. Testosterone levels were highest during the dry season (33.89 ± 7.85ng/ml). Our data indicate that plasma testosterone showed a "dissociation" from reproductive activity such that the two parameters are asynchronous during the reproductive season. The characteristics of the reproductive cycle of R. arenarum allow this species the plasticity to colonize different environments, from tropical regions to deserts.Fil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Jahn, Graciela Alma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Fornes, Miguel Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; Argentin

First Report of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Warty Toad, Rhinella spinulosa (Wiegmann, 1834), from the Argentinean Andean Foothills

Se reporta el registro de Bd en diferentes poblaciones de Rhinella spinulosa, informando distintos grados de persistencia.Fil: Ghirardi, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Javier Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Levy, Michael G.. North Carolina State University; Estados Unido

The tadpole of <i>Odontophrynus barrio</i> Cei, Ruiz, and Beçak, 1982 (Anura: Odontophrynidae): a comparison with the other tadpoles of the genus

We describe the tadpole of Odontophrynus barrioi including external larval features, chondrocranial and cranial musculature, and compare it with the other species of the genus. Tadpoles of O. barrioi at stages 31–37 are about 52.46 mm long. The body is slightly depressed in lateral view and ovoid in dorsal view. Oral disc is emarginate laterally, anteroventral and small with a single row of marginal papillae, a single large dorsal gap, and labial tooth row formula 2(2)/3(1). Despite small interspecific variations, like different labial tooth row formulae, the general aspect of species is quite similar. Although poorly-known yet, the chondrocranium and cranial musculature display some variations within the genusInstituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet"Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Vulnerability to climate change of a microendemic lizard species from the central Andes

Given the rapid loss of biodiversity as consequence of climate change, greater knowledge of ecophysiological and natural history traits are crucial to determine which environmental factors induce stress and drive the decline of threatened species. Liolaemus montanezi (Liolaemidae), a xeric-adapted lizard occurring only in a small geographic range in west-central Argentina, constitutes an excellent model for studies on the threats of climate change on such microendemic species. We describe feld data on activity patterns, use of microhabitat, behavioral thermoregulation, and physiology to produce species distribution models (SDMs) based on climate and ecophysiological data. Liolaemus montanezi inhabits a thermally harsh environment which remarkably impacts their activity and thermoregulation. The species shows a daily bimodal pattern of activity and mostly occupies shaded microenvironments. Although the individuals thermoregulate at body temperatures below their thermal preference they avoid high-temperature microenvironments probably to avoid overheating. The population currently persists because of the important role of the habitat physiognomy and not because of niche tracking, seemingly prevented by major rivers that form boundaries of their geographic range. We found evidence of habitat opportunities in the current range and adjacent areas that will likely remain suitable to the year 2070, reinforcing the relevance of the river foodplain for the species’ avoidance of extinction.Fil: Laspiur, Julio Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Santos, J. C.. St. Johns University; Estados UnidosFil: Medina, Susana Marlin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro, Jesús Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Sinervo, B.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Ibarguengoytía, Nora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentin

Effect of salinity on locomotor performance and thermal extremes of metamorphic Andean Toads (Rhinella spinulosa) from Monte Desert, Argentina

Rhinella spinulosa is distributed from Peru to Argentina (from 1200 to 5000 m elevation), inhabiting arid mountain valleys of the Andes, characterized by salty soils. The variations in soil salinity, caused by high evapotranspiration of water, can create an osmotic constraint and high thermal oscillations for metamorphsed Andean toad (R. spinulosa), affecting their thermoregulation and extreme thermal tolerances. We investigated the changes in thermal tolerance parameters (critical thermal maximum and crystallization temperature) of a population of metamorphosed R. spinulosa from the Monte Desert of San Juan, Argentina, under different substrate salinity conditions. Our results suggest that the locomotor performance of metamorphs of R. spinulosa is affected by increasing salinity concentrations in the environment where they develop. On the other hand, the thermal extremes of metamorphs of R. spinulosa also showed changes associated with different salinity conditions. According to other studies on different organisms, the increase of the osmolarity of the internal medium may increase the thermal tolerance of this species. More studies are needed to understand the thermo-osmolar adjustments of the metamorphs of toads to environmental variability.Fil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Vergara Alvarez, Silvia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Banchig, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Marun, Cesar Yamil. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ontivero, Roberto Emanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Leptodactylus bufonius (Boulenger, 1894) (Anura, Leptodactylidae). Ampliación del rango de distribución para la provincia de San Juan (República Argentina)

Ampliación de la distribución de Leptodactylus bufonius.Fil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vergara Alvarez, Silvia Cristina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Wetten, Paula. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aragon y Traverso, Juan Héctor. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Exequiel. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Diet composition of an invasive population of Lithobates catesbeianus (American Bullfrog) from Argentina

The American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus has been introduced around the world, with invasive populations reported from almost all South American countries. A population of this species was introduced in the Calingasta department of San Juan province, which is an arid environment in western Argentina. This work provides information on the dietary composition of an invasive population of L. catesbeianus, and compares the degree of dietary overlap between adults and juveniles. Stomach contents of 169 bullfrogs (82 adults and 87 juveniles) were analysed. Adults consumed 40 prey taxa and Hymenoptera (Insecta) was the most numerous prey item (41.8%), followed by Araneae (13.6%) and Aeglidae (13.4%). Juveniles consumed 29 prey taxa and Hymenoptera constituted the highest percentage in prey number (77.2%). The trophic overlap niche index at the same level shows a value of 0.64 overlap in dietary community between adults and juveniles of this bullfrog. Aeglidae was volumetrically the most important trophic item (25.4%), followed by Anura (25.02%). Our results showed that cannibalism in bullfrogs is more common than the consumption of native anurans, coinciding with that reported in other populations of introduced bullfrogs. The high similarity in the diets of both size classes and the association between the size of the predator and prey suggest that the impact caused by bullfrogs throughout their ontogeny is high andprobablyhasanimpactontheirprey.Freshwatercrabsarethemainitemsinthe diet of Lithobates catesbeianus in other introduced populations and are usually the most conspicuous at our study site. The crabs in freshwater ecosystems are part of the lowest trophic level in the food chain. The major threats to the southern region’s freshwater crabs include deforestation, farming and exotic species. Lithobates catesbeianus has a generalist diet and high overlap between adults and juveniles.Fil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Moreno Avila, María Daniela. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Cataldo, Ariel Anibal. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Aragon y Traverso, Juan Héctor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Pantano, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Olivares Toselli, Juan Pablo Segundo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; Argentin