The ontogeny of the lateral line system in Telmatobius atacamensis (Anura, Telmatobiidae)

QUINZIO, SILVIA INÉS

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2020 vol. 281 p. 4 - 16

0362-2525

The lateral line system in anurans is functional during aquatic stagesand therefore could provide characters related to larval morphologicalvariation. However, fewstudies have addressed its components in an integrated overview, andlittle is known about its ontogenetic variation. This study describes the postembryonic trajectory of the lateral systemin Telmatobius atacamensis upto its metamorphic regression, including structure,number, topography and innervation of neuromasts, to contribute new andcomplete information about its larval organization and its temporal sequence ofregression. The arrangement and innervation oflateral lines in T. atacamensisresembles those described for other Type IV tadpoles. Its distinctive features are the orientation of the neuromast stitches in thelateral lines, the presence of supraotic neuromasts, and the first-describedcase of asymmetry of the ventral trunk line. The temporal sequence of regression duringmetamorphosis differs between the lateral lines and the lateralline nerves, which remain myelinated into postmetamorphic stages. Thisasynchronous pattern between different components of the system has also beendescribed for Pseudis paradoxa, whichshares with T. atacamensis aremarkably long larval period. This long larval period and gradualmetamorphosis could also be related to the constitutive metamorphic regression of the system, in spite of the aquatic lifestyle ofthese frogs.