Comparative Morphometrics in leptodactyline Frogs (Anura, Leptodactylidae, Leptodactylinae): Does Burrowing Behaviour Relate to Sexual Dimorphism?

PONSSA ML; MEDINA RG

JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY

SOC STUDY AMPHIBIANS REPTILES

Lugar: Salt Lake City; Año: 2016 vol. 50 p. 604 - 615

0022-1511

Fossorial habits occur in many animal lineages and usually involve both morphological and physiological adaptations that may evolve independently. Burrowing behaviour in some species of the anuran subfamily Leptodactylinae involves the use of the hind limbs and/or head. The aim of this study was, first, to identify the morphometric characters associated with burrowing behaviour in species of this subfamily. We then hypothesized that, as this habit is usually associated with males, we would find sexual dimorphism in head and hind-limb morphology in the burrowing species but not in the non-burrowing species. We compared 500 specimens from 24 species using phylogenetic statistical analyses and phylogenetic mapping of sexually dimorphic characters. The results demonstrated the following: (1) There was no correlation between the measurements of the limbs, head or tarsal tubercle and burrowing behaviour in the analysed species, (2) There was no sexual dimorphism related to burrowing behaviour reflected in measurements of the head or hind limbs, (3) Sexual dimorphism in the morphometric characters was always derived. Modifications of the ridged snout and increased ossification in the nasal region of the males of the fossorial species appear to be sufficient adaptations for burrowing.