The submandibular musculature of Phyllomedusinae (Anura: Hylidae): A reappraisal

FAIVOVICH, J.; BAETA, D.; VERA CANDIOTI, F.V.; HADDAD, C. F. B.; TYLER, M. J.

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2011 vol. 272 p. 354 - 362

0362-2525

The submandibular musculature of 37species of the five currently recognized genera of thesubfamily Phyllomedusinae (Anura: Hylidae) isdescribed; observations are made on the variation andontogeny of these muscles. Supplementary apical elementsof the m. intermandibularis occur in all phyllomedusinesstudied, in addition to the supplementary posterolateralelements previously reported. Our observationsare discussed in the context of 1) the proposedhomology between supplementary apical and posterolateralelements; 2) the homology with the apical elementsreported for Pelodryadinae (sister taxon of Phyllomedusinae);and 3) the implications for our understanding ofthe relationships between Phyllomedusinae and Pelodryadinae.Anatomical differences between the apicaland posterolateral elements and their co-occurrence inphyllomedusines indicate that these supplementary elementsare not homologous. Despite differences betweenphyllomedusines and pelodryadines in the adhesion ofsupplementary fibers to the principal element of the m.intermandibularis and the occurrence of a broad aponeurosisor a medial raphe, the extensive morphological anddevelopmental resemblances of the apical elements indicatethat these structures are homologous, and that thepresence of apical elements is a synapomorphy of Phyllomedusinae1 Pelodryadinae.