Gland composition in sexually dimorphic skin structures of two species of Hylid frogs: Plectrohyla guatemalensis and Ptychohyla hypomykter

LUNA, MARÍA CELESTE; VÁSQUEZ-ALMAZÁN, CARLOS ROBERTO; FAIVOVICH, JULIAN; BRUNETTI, ANDRÉS EDUARDO

AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA

BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS

Lugar: Leiden; Año: 2019 vol. 40 p. 523 - 529

0173-5373

Secondary sexual characters form a diverse group of traits widely spread in amphibians. Within anurans, theHylini tribe represents an interesting group to examine the evolution of this type of characters because it has differentskin structure modifications, including ventrolateral glands, nuptial pads, and unique swollen upper lips. We analysed theskin gland composition in the upper lip of Plectrohyla guatemalensis and the ventrolateral gland of Ptychohyla hypomykter(Hylidae: Hylinae: Hylini). Each of these species is characterized by a different type of sexually dimorphic skin gland;specialized mucous glands (SMGs) in Pl. guatemalensis and specialized serous glands (SSGs) in Pt. hypomykter. The SMGsconform to the general type of sexually dimorphic skin glands in amphibians, whereas SSGs are very rare. Because SMGsare likely involved in the production of sexual pheromones, their distinctive location and their co-occurrence with othersecondary sexual characters like long and pointed maxillary and premaxillary teeth in Pl. guatemalensis suggests that thesystem used for their delivery may be a distinguishing behavioral feature in this species. The presence of both types of glandsin Pt. hypomykter (SMGs in nuptial pads, and SSGs in ventrolateral glands) suggests a different or, at least, a complementaryrole of these two types of glands during reproduction.