Squeletal development of Leptodactylus chaquensis (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

PEROTTI, M.G.

HERPETOLOGICA

The Herpetologists´ League

Año: 2001 vol. 57 p. 318 - 335

0018-0831

I describe the skeletal development of the leptodactyline frog Leptodactylus cha- quensis based on a series of 42 cleared and double-stained tadpoles, juveniles, and adults. Postcranial ossification starts premetamorphically, along with the exoccipitals, parasphenoid, and frontoparietals (stages 33, 34, 36, respectively). The chondrocranium undergoes major modifications during the latter portion of metamorphosis (stages 40-41), when the septomaxillae, premaxillae, maxillae, na- sals, squamosals, angulosplenials, dentaries, and vomers appear. At metamorphic climax, the pter- ygoids, quadratojugals, and the plectral apparatus ossify and the sphenethmoid ossifies postmeta- morphically. The sequence of cranial and postcranial ossification exhibited by this species follows the general developmental pattern previously reported for anurans.