Leptodactylus melanonotus

About: Leptodactylus melanonotus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 9 publications have been published within this topic receiving 147 citations.

Helminth parasites of seven anuran species from northwestern Mexico

Abstract: One hundred eighty-three specimens representing 7 anuran species were examined for helminth parasites: Bufo kelloggi, B. mazatlanensis, Leptodactylus melanonotus, Pachymedusa dacnicolor, Rana forreri, R. magnaocularis, Smilisca baudini . The following species were found: 8 species of Trematoda, Cephalogonimus americanus, Clinostomum attenuatum (larva), Glypthelmins poncedeleoni, G. quieta, Gorgoderina attenuata, Haematoloechus complexus, H. longiplexus , and Megalodiscus temperatus ; 2 species of Cestoda, Cylindrotaenia americana and Nematotaenia dispar ; 13 species of Nematoda, Aplectana incerta, A. itzocanensis, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Cosmocercella haberi, Cosmocercoides variabilis, Foleyellides striatus, Oswaldocruzia pipiens, Rhabdias americanus, R. ranae, Subulascaris falcaustriformis, Physaloptera sp. (larva), Physocephalus sp. (larva), and Spiroxys sp. (larva); and 1 species of Acanthocephala (cystacanth). Helminth species richness was 6.4 ± 2.4 s. Thirty-five new host records are reported.

The blood parasites of anurans from Costa Rica with reflections on the taxonomy of their trypanosomes.

Abstract: During May 1997, specimens of 7 species of anurans, that included 5 Phrynohyas venulosa Laurenti, 5 Rana forreri Boulenger, 7 Rana vaillanti Brucchi, 6 Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri Schimdt, 4 Smilisca baudinii Dumeril and Bibron, 1 Leptodactylus melanonotus, and 3 Bufo marinus Linneaus, from the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica were examined for blood parasites. Their hematozoan fauna included intraerythrocytic and intraleukocytic icosahedral viruses, a rickettsia (Aegyptianella sp.), 2 species of Hepatozoon, Lankesterella minima, 2 unknown species of apicomplexans, 9 morphologically distinct types of trypanosomes, and 2 species of microfilariae. Rana vaillanti, the most aquatic species of frog, harbored the most species of parasites. Recent evidence indicates that morphological changes in the highly pleomorphic trypanosomes of anurans from different geographical regions have not kept pace with biochemical (isozyme) and molecular (DNA sequence) changes. Describing new species based solely on bloodstream trypomastigotes is discouraged. Additional criteria described herein should be applied when naming new species of anuran trypanosomes.

Osteology, natural history notes, and phylogenetic relationships of the poorly known Caribbean frog Leptodactylus nesiotus (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Abstract: The Leptodactylus melanonotus group consists of 15 species, but references to skeletal characters are available for only three species: L. leptodactyloides, L. melanonotus, and L. diedrus. Leptodactylus nesiotus is a member of the melanonotus group known only from the type locality, Bonasse swamp, on the Southwestern peninsula of Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. This species has been categorized as vulnerable given its restricted distribution. Herein, we report the adult osteology of L. nesiotus, the skeletal characters are compared with the available data from other Leptodactylus species. A phylogenetic analysis recovers a paraphyletic L. melanonotus group relative to the L. latrans group. A monophyletic “latrans-melanonotus” clade is supported by five synapomorphies. L. nesiotus is recovered as the sister species of L. validus, a relationship supported by two synapomorphies: T-shaped terminal phalanges and a dark-colored stripe on the outer surface of arm. In addition, we report on the ecology of this poorly known species.

Spatial and temporal distribution and microhabitat use of aquatic breeding amphibians (Anura) in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Chamela, Mexico

Abstract: The distribution of amphibians is affected by abiotic and biotic factors, availability of resources and the characteristics of reproductive sites. In particular, reproductive activity of aquatic-breeding anurans that inhabit tropical dry areas is affected by rainfall, which determines the availability and quality of reproductive sites. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of anurans with indirect development in a tropical dry forest in Western Mexico, during two rainy seasons (July 10-October 4, 2013, and June 26-September 26, 2014). We collected data on the occupancy and reproductive activity of 15 species in four temporary streams, and evaluated their relationship with precipitation, humidity and temperature. We determined richness, abundance and diversity of species in each stream; we also identified differences in the reproductive strategies and microhabitats used by the species. The most abundant species were: Tlalocohyla smithii and Exerodonta smaragdina, whereas the least abundant were Leptodactylus melanonotus and Incilius mazatlanensis. Species richness, abundance and reproductive activity peaked alongside the stream with the greatest number of breeding sites (e.g. pools). We found temporal segregation in the occupancy and reproductive activity of species in all streams which were mainly associated with precipitation. However, occupancy and reproductive activity of some species overlapped up to four weeks during part of the breeding season. Most species used specific substrates for particular reproductive activities (e.g. oviposition), but used a range of microhabitats (leaf-litter, water, rocks, branches, leaves, logs, etc.) for others (e.g. calling). We discuss these behavioral differences as factors that facilitate coexistence of species in this environment in the rainy season.

Glypthelmins poncedeleoni N. Sp. (Trematoda: Macroderoididae) of Amphibians from the Neotropical Region of México

Abstract: A new species of Glypthelmins (Trematoda: Macroderoididae) is described from the intestine of Bufo marinus and Leptodactylus melanonotus from several localities of the Neotropical Region of Mexico. Glypthelmins poncedeleoni n. sp. can be differentiated from other species of the genus by having extracecally distributed vitellaria, ovary always larger than testes, and vitelline follicles grouped in 7 post-testicular, nonoverlapping, rosette-like clusters and 5 pretesticular overlapping clusters.