Development data as phylogenetic characters: a case study of a subfamily of frogs (Anura: Leiuperinae)

GROSSO, J; BALDO, D.; CARDOZO D.; KOLENC F.; BORTEIRO C.; DE OLIVEIRA M.I.R.; BONINO MF; BARRASSO D.; VERA CANDIOTI, M.F.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; X Meeting of the Latin American Society for Developmental Biology; 2019

The study of early development in leiuperines frogs has been addressed by several works in recent times. However, a comparative developmental approach under a phylogenetic context was not available. Herein we analyzed the morphological and ontogenetic diversity of embryos belonging to 22 species of the three largest genera in Leiuperinae. We find that in most cases, variations fit with the phylogeny at the inter-and intrageneric levels. Embryo kyphosis and whitish color are synapomorphies for the clade Physalaemus + Engystomops. The configurations and developmental trajectories of the lower lip are exceptionally diverse. The developmental sequences optimizedrecover an early differentiated first lower tooth row a synapomorphy of Pseudopaludicola and Physalaemus, and an early differentiated second row as synapomorphy of Pleurodema. On the other hand, few features are highly conserved in the subfamily, such as the adhesive glands universally present in a type-C configuration. Finally, our results also suggest that the morphology and ontogeny of embryos is in some cases associated to the environment where they develop. A large body size, poorly developed transient respiratory structures and delayed development of the digestive tract occur convergently in embryos inhabiting cold, oxygenated environments. Embryos that develop in warmer water bodies in xeric environments show more complex and persistent transient respiratory structures and an early onset of hind limbs development.