Comparative description and ossification patterns of Dendropsophus labialis (Peters, 1863) and Scinax ruber (Laurenti, 1758) (Anura: Hylidae)

Introduction

Comparative morphological descriptions for a specific group of frogs have provided useful systematic characters since 1960 (e.g., Cannatella, 1999; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016). However, most studies of frog morphological characters focus on adults (Faivovich, 2002; Faivovich et al., 2005; Maglia, Pugener & Mueller, 2007; Wiens et al., 2010; Pyron & Wiens, 2011; Yildirim & Kaya, 2014; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016), and tadpoles have often been overlooked (Alcalde et al., 2011). Of those comparative studies that examine tadpoles, most consider external morphological characters and skeletal characters are often neglected (Fabrezi & Lavilla, 1992; Faivovich, 2002; Maglia, Pugener & Mueller, 2007; Hoyos et al., 2012; Yildirim & Kaya, 2014). When skeletal features are considered, the chondrocranium is most often described, while the postcranium is frequently ignored (e.g., Orton, 1953; Starrett, 1973; Wassersug, 1980; Wassersug & Heyer, 1988; Haas, 2003). However, as with other groups, relatively few detailed comparative morphological studies of hylid tadpole skeletal development have been completed. Given the diversity and recent taxonomic rearrangements of the hylids (Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016; Jungfer, 2017) is important to amass as much comparative information about the group as possible. Thus, there continues to be a pressing need to conduct comprehensive comparative studies of hylids developmental morphology.

Interspecific variations in morphology help to clarify taxonomic groups within in the Hylidae. The family is predominantly distributed across the Neotropical region (Frost, 2018; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016) and comprises 706 species grouped into seven subfamilies: Acridinae, Cophomantinae, Dendropsophinae, Hylinae, Lophyophylinae, Pseudinae, and Scinaxinae (Faivovich et al., 2005; Wiens et al., 2010; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016; Frost, 2018). Ossification sequences are known for only 15 species, and only eight of those include the postcranial skeleton: Acris blanchardi (Havens, 2010; Maglia, Pugener & Mueller, 2007), Boana lanciformis (former Hyla lanciformis, De Sá, 1988), Boana pulchella (former Hypsiboas pulchellus Hoyos et al., 2012), Dryophytes chrysoscelis (former Hyla chrysoscelis, Shearman & Maglia, 2014), Dryophytes versicolor (former Hyla chrysoscelis, Sheil et al., 2014), Hyla orientalis (Yildirim & Kaya, 2014), Osteopilus septentrionalis (Sheil et al., 2014), Pseudacris crucifer (Havens, 2010). 

Because identifying variations in developmental morphology and ossification sequence can lead to informative phylogenetic characters (Weisbecker & Mitgutsch, 2010; Harrington, Harrison & Sheil, 2013), we provide a detailed anatomical comparison of the cranial and postcranial development (including the sequence of onset of ossification) between two species of Andean hylids, Dendropsophus labialis and Scinax ruber.

Materials and Methods

We cleared and double stained for bone and cartilage. We made some changes to the standard protocol of Dingerkus & Uhler (1977): (1) proportion of ethanol (SIGMA Ref. 459836-2L) and acetic acid (SIGMA Ref. K36101663 620) was changed to 70:30; (2) the Alcian blue (SIGMA Ref. A5268-25G) was increased to 75 mg/add volume, which was dissolved in ethanol and acetic acid; and (3) staining duration of this last solution was increased to 72 h. A number of specimens in our series of S. ruber did not show clear staining, thus we increased our sample size. The sample size for tadpoles and metamorphs of D. labialis was N = 32, and S. ruber was N = 114. The number in each series corresponds to the availability of specimens stored at the Museo de Historia Natural “Lorenzo Uribe” at the Universidad Javeriana (MUJ) and the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales at the Universidad Nacional in Bogotá—Colombia (ICN). The larval stages of D. labialis were collected from the Municipio Tenjo, Cundinamarca Departament, 3,200 m (MUJ 9250). The larval stages of S. ruber were collected from the Mun. Neiva, Huila Dep., 570 m; Mun. Granada, Meta Dep., 470 m (MUJ 3727, MUJ 6178, ICN 46015-46017). Tadpoles and metamorphs were staged according to Gosner’s (1960).

Observations and photographs were made with a stereomicroscope (Advanced Optical: Amersham, UK (stereoscopes), and Ottawa, Canada (cameras)) connected to a camera (Infinity 1; Lumenera Corporation, Ottawa, Canada) with white LED light and Image Pro Insight program (version 8.0.3). The drawings were made using a digitizing tablet (Bamboo Connect pen; Wacom, Portland, OR, USA) and edited using Adobe Illustrator 5. Anatomical nomenclature for tadpoles follows Parker (1876), Higgins (1921), Jolie (1962), Roček (1981), Duellman & Trueb (1986), Haas (1995); Haas (1997), Hall & Larsen (1998), Maglia & Pugener (1998), Cannatella (1999), Haas (1999), Sheil & Alamillo (2005), Pugener & Maglia (2007), Bowatte & Meegaskumbura (2011), Hoyos et al. (2012), adult nomenclature is based on Avilán & Hoyos (2006), using the Latin names given by the ICVAN (1973).

The ossification sequence was determined by the first appearance of ossified bone. We refer to the metamorphic climax (MC) sensu Banbury & Maglia (2006) as the Gosner stages (GS) at which major modifications and fundamental structural changes occur, resulting in the loss of most of the larval characters. We also used the term “rank” to refer to the ordinal number within an ossification sequence at which an element begins to ossify. We note the first time any specimen at that stage showed stain. If two or more elements begin ossifying at the same time (Gosner stages), they were assigned the same rank (i.e., a tie) as per Nunn & Smith (1998).

Results

Skeletal development and sequence of onset of ossification of the cranial and postcranial elements of D. labialis and S. ruber are showed in Tables 1 and 2. Many young specimens (between stages 26 and 35) stained poorly. However, we had sufficient sample size assess ossification sequence. Specimens older than stage 35 stained more reliably.

Chondrocranium

We observed similar changes in the shape, size, and modification of structures in the development of chondrocranium in the two species. The elements of the skeleton were compared according to the initiation of ossification and not with a specific stage, because in the two study species the ossification occurred in different Gosner stages (Table 3). The overall width of the chondrocranium in D. labialis and S. ruber is roughly 80–90% of the total length (Fig. 1). The chondrocranium in D. labialis is wider (dorsal view) and lower (lateral view) than S. ruber (Figs. 1A–1C). Basicranial fenestrae did not differentiate with Alcian Blue in either species. We perceived a stronger blue coloration in D. labialis, and the jugular, prootic, and oculomotor foramen were clearly defined, whereas in S. ruber we could not see the oculomotor foramen.

Table 3:

Onset of ossification of cranial and poscranial elements of D. labialis and S. ruber.

Species			Dendropsophus labialis									Scinax ruber
Gosner Stage (Specimens with ossified elements)			35 (1)	36 (2)	37 (3)	38 (1)	41 (3)	42 (3)	43 (1)	45 (1)	46 (1)	36 (6)	37 (9)	38 (3)	39/40 (3)	41 (4)	42 (5)	43 (3)	44 (4)	45 (1)	46 (1)
Cranium	Paraesfenoids			1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	3	5	2	3	3	3	3	3	1	1
	Exoccipital			1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1			3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
	Frontopariental				1		2	3	1	1	1			2	2	2	1	3	3	1	1
Post cranium	Transverse Process	I			1							6	9	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		II	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	5	6	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		III	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	5	6	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		IV	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	5	6	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		V	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	3	6	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		VI	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	3	6	3	3	3	4	3	2	1	1
		VII	1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	1	4	2	3	3	3	3	2	1	1
		VIII		1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	3	2	3	1
		IX			1									1	3	1	1	3
	Neural arch	I		1	1	1	3	3	1	1			3	3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
		II			1	1	3	3	1	1			3	3	3	3	3	3	3	1	1
		III			1								2	3	3	3	3	3	3	1	1
		IV			1									3	3	3	3	3	2	1	1
		V			1									2	3	3	3	3	2
		VI			1									2	3	3	1	3
		VII			1									1	3	2		3
		VIII			1									1	3	1		3
		IX
	Manus	Metacarpal I			1					1
		Metacarpal II			1					1
		Metacarpal III			1					2	1
		Metacarpal IV			1			1		2	1
		Metacarpal V			1					2	1
		Metatarsal distal tarsal IV			1					2	1
		Metatarsal distal tarsal IV			1					1
Prepollex				1					1
Pes	Metatarsal I			1					1
	Metatarsal II			1			1		1	1
	Metatarsal III			1		1	2		1	1
	Metatarsal IV			1		1	2		1	1
	Metatarsal V			1		1	2		1	1
Atlas		1	1	1	1	3	3	1	1	1			3	3	3	4	3	3	1	1
Femur				1		2	3	1	1	1				3	1		3	1
Fibula				1		2	3	1	1	1
Tibia				1		2	3	1	1	1
Tibiofibula				1		2	3	1	1	1				3	1	1	3	1	1
Scapula				1		2	2		1	1				3	1		3
Suprascapula				1		2	2		1	1
Clavicle				1		2	2		1	1				3	1		3		1
Coracoids				1		2	2		1	1
Humerus				1		2	3	1	1	1				1	1		3
Ulna				1
Radioulna				1		2	3	1	1	1				3	3		3

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4525/table-3

The cartilaginous regions of the taenia tecti medialis and tectum sinoticum both represent a quarter of the basis cranii, extending from the frontoparietal fontanelle in both species. The tectum nasi roofs the nasal region, and the ethmoid plate forms the floor. The tectum nasi is separated from the orbit by a wall, the lamina orbitonasalis (=planum antorbitale sensu Cannatella, 1999). Because these regions are weakly chondrified, the lamina orbitonasalis is not observable in the tadpole stages, and the nasal capsules become visible after metamorphic climax (stage 42 and beyond). The taenia tecti marginalis is evident and clearly differentiated by GS37 in D. labialis and by GS35 in S. ruber. In neither species did we observe a frontoparietal fenestra, nor was a taenia tecti transversalis visible on the edge of the frontoparietal fontanelle (Fig. 1A).

Suprarostral cartilage. In both species, the suprarostral cartilage is composed of a discontinuous cartilaginous plate divided into a corpus suprarostralis and a pars alaris; posterolaterally we observed a distal syndesmotic junction between the corpus and the ala. The ala has three processes: two rounded anterolateral processes that join syndesmotically with the cornu trabeculae, and one process posterolaterally (Fig. 1C). Fenestrations were not observed in the suprarostral cartilage, nor in the adrostral cartilage near the processus posterodorsalis (=processus dorsalis posterior, sensu Bowatte & Meegaskumbura, 2011). In D. labialis the corpus suprarostral is curved, while in S. ruber it is straighter and wider distally, articulating proximally with the cornu trabecula (trabecular horn, sensu Cannatella, 1999). The cornua trabecula are approximately 35% of the total length of chondrocranium (lateral view) in both species, but they are shorter and narrower in D. labialis than in S. ruber. The cornu trabeculae articulate anteriorly with the corpus rostrale and laterally with the pars alaris of the suprarostral cartilage.

Cartilago Meckeli. The cartilago Meckeli (=Meckel’s cartilage, sensu Cannatella, 1999) has three processes: the retroarticular (short and blunt), the dorsomedial, and the ventromedial. These processes articulate with the infrarostral cartilage (commissura intramandibularis, sensu Cannatella, 1999) which is composed of two syndesmotically, joined flat plates, and the processus muscularis quadrati. The shape of the processus dorsomedialis and the processus ventromedialis are the same in both species. The palatoquadrate cartilage and the commissura quadratocranialis are joined anteriorly to the base cranii. Laterally, the palatoquadrate cartilage forms the arcus subocularis. The process muscularis quadrati is joined to the processus antorbitalis (=pars plana sensu Parker, 1876; = lamina externa sensu Higgins, 1921; = processus antorbitalis sensu (Roček, 1981); = triangular plane sensu Hall & Larsen, 1998 = cartilaginous planum triangulare sensu Pugener & Maglia, 2007) anterolaterally, projecting above the cornu trabecula. The processus hyoquadrati of the palatoquadrate cartilage articulates ventrally with the ceratohyalia of the hyobranchial apparatus (Fig. 1D).

Otic capsule. This structure is longer and higher than wide, occupying about a fifth of the total length of the skull. The crista parotica exhibits a more pronounced lateral projection in D. labialis than in S. ruber. The crista parotica is laterally developed, forming a small processus posterolateralis (=processus lateralis posterior sensu Bowatte & Meegaskumbura, 2011) and a small processus anterolateralis (more developed in D. labialis). The processus anterolateralis projects vertically, descending obliquely and overlapping the ventral posterolateral margin of the palatoquadrate cartilage. The otic capsule is perforated by the fenestra ovalis, which occupies about 20% of the otic capsule.

Hyobranchial apparatus. The large ceratohyal has a processus anterioris hyalis, a processus posterioris hyalis, and a processus anterolateralis hyalis. The first two processes are longer than the third, which extends to meet the transverse crease of the processus lateralis hyalis.

The basihyal plate is oval and extends proximally to the copula anterior (=Basibranchial I sensu Duellman & Trueb, 1986; = basihyale sensu Haas, 1995; Haas, 1997; = copula I sensu Maglia & Pugener, 1998; Sheil & Alamillo, 2005) in D. labialis, but is absent in S. ruber. The basibranchial plate is semi-oval and located between the two hypobranchial plates (=planum hypobranchiale sensu Haas, 1999; = plate hyoid sensu Maglia & Pugener, 1998; = hyobranchial plate sensu Sheil & Alamillo, 2005), and a branchial bridge is present in both species, being wider in S. ruber than in D. labialis. The junction between each ceratobranchium and the planum hypobranchiale is syndesmotic. The ceratobranchia are united posteriorly by the commissura terminalis and bear three spicules anteriorly (Fig. 1D).

The chondrocranial morphology and hyobranchial apparatus is generally similar between the species examined here and those previously studied. However, we did identify several differences between S. ruber and D. labialis, including: (1) the shape of the suprarostral, (2) the size and width of infrarostral cartilages, (3) the length of processus articularis, (4) the thickness of palatoquadrate, (5) the size of optic foramen, (6) the presence of an operculum and processus posterolateralis of the otic capsule, (7) the thickness of the processus muscularis quadrati, (8) the attachment of the ascending process to the braincase, (9) the thickness of the planum ethmoidale, (10) the development of the branchial apparatus, (11) the presence of the copula I, and (12) the type of junction between the ceratobranchia and planum hypobranchiale (Figs. 1 and 2). These differences likely represent species specific differences between the two taxa examined.

Appendicular skeleton

Shoulder girdle. The pectoral girdle is arciferal in both species. The earliest ossification of the clavicle, coracoid, and scapula appears at GS36 (Fig. 3A). The clavicle and the cleithrum are distinct, and an epicoracoid cartilage is prominent between the clavicle and the coracoid. The epicoracoids are not mineralized. In D. labialis the omosternum is elongated, and the sternum has two projections. The omosternum and the sternum are oval in S. ruber. The clavicle articulates with the coracoid, which is ossified in D. labialis at GS41 and in S. ruber at GS46. The sternum is formed by the epicoracoid and the mesosternum, which joins the medial junction of the epicoracoids (Fig. 2B).

Pelvic girdle. In both species, the primordium of the ilium appears at GS34 and is fully developed by GS41. The ilium begins to ossify by GS41 in D. labialis and by GS39/40 in S. ruber and articulates anteriorly with the ventral surface of the lateral margin of the sacral diapophyses by GS42. The iliac crest appears dorsally prominent. The primordia of the pubis and the ischium appear at GS36, and are synchondrotically fused by GS38 in both species. The sacral diapophyses is wider in D. labialis that in S. ruber. The pubis is completely fused by GS40. The pelvic girdle is completely ossified with the halves fused at the midline, extending anterodorsally forming an angle of 55° with the head of the femur by GS45 (Fig. 3).

Fore limb and hind limb. The first cartilaginous elements of the forelimbs (radius, ulna, and humerus) appear at GS32, and those of the hindlimbs at GS33 (femur, tibia, and fibula). The tibia and fibula are fused in D. labialis by GS41 and in S. ruber by GS38. We observed ossification of the radius and ulna in D. labialis (GS41) and S. ruber (post metamorphic). The radius and ulna are fused in both species. Primordia of the four carpal and five tarsal elements appear by GS33 and complete development by GS41.

The phalangeal carpal formula is 3-3-4-4 and the phalangeal tarsal formula is 3-3-4-5-4 in both species. Metacarpals are curved and phalanges are cylindrical, having a conical shape at the tip of the terminal phalanges. Digits IV (manus and pes) and V (pes) begin to ossify by GS42 in D. labialis, although all phalanges are ossified at GS45 in both species (Fig. 3). The carpals were cartilaginous in all specimens and stages examined, and the distal tarsals were cartilaginous in S. ruber. The relative size of carpal elements is 3 < 4 < 2 < 1< prehallux and the tarsal elements is 4 < 5 < 3 < 2 < 1 < prepollex. Sesamoids are absent from GS25 to GS45. Figure 3A shows the limb elements (central, fibulare, radiale, tibiale, ulnare, and intermedium) at Stage 45.

Axial skeleton

The vertebral column is composed of eight procoelous presacral vertebrae, the sacrum, and the urostyle. The notochord diminishes as the tadpoles grow and is completely resorbed by GS44 in both species (Fig. 4). We found that the axial skeleton was more chondrified in D. labialis than in S. ruber. The first postcranial skeletal elements to develop in both species were the nine pairs of semicircular cartilaginous primordia of neural arches, including eight presacral vertebrae, the sacrum, the urostyle and the hypochord. The sacral diapophyseal primordia are cylindrical. The last postsacral vertebra (first coccygeal or Vertebra X sensu Haas, 1999) and the second coccygeal vertebra ossify only in D. labialis by GS45. Simultaneous to the ossification of presacral vertebrae, there is notochord absorption, fusion of the coccygeal elements, and urostyle formation. The urostyle has a bicondylar articulation with the sacral vertebra and the condyles are widely separated in both species (Fig. 4).

The atlas is concave at its point of articulation with the convex occipital condyles at the base of the skull. Semicircular procoelous (sensu Jolie, 1962) vertebral centra begin to develop as early as GS31 in D. labialis and GS32 in S. ruber, increasing the thickness of both the neural arches and the transverse process. The neural arches appear as cartilage at GS33 in both species, completing at GS34 in D. labialis and at GS38 in S. ruber. The arches are fused dorsally at the midline at GS38 in S. ruber and at GS38 in D. labialis. The transverse processes are the first elements to ossify in both species (Tables 1 and 2). Postzygapophyses and prezygapophyses are conspicuous in presacral vertebrae II, III, and IV in both species. Sesamoids are absent from GS25 to GS45.

Discussion

Despite Colombia housing the second greatest number of hylid species on the planet, few previous studies have considered developmental ossification of Colombian hylids. The family Hylidae has gone through a number of taxonomic rearrangements, as elucidated by various phylogenetic hypotheses based on molecular, chromosomal, and morphological data from both larvae and adults (Faivovich, 2002; Faivovich et al., 2005; Wiens et al., 2010; Pyron & Wiens, 2011; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016). Data from additional morphological studies of Colombia hylids may help to support or refute these hypotheses.

Previous studies of the cranial morphology in hylid tadpoles include Acris crepitans (Maglia, Pugener & Mueller, 2007), Boana lanciformis (De Sá, 1988; Alcalde & Rosset, 2003), Boana pulchella (Hoyos et al., 2012), Boana raniceps and Dendropsophus nanus (former Hyla raniceps and Hyla nana Fabrezi & Lavilla, 1992; Vera Candioti & Haas, 2004, Dryophytes versicolor (former Hyla versicolor, Sheil et al., 2014), Hyla orientalis (Yildirim & Kaya, 2014), Julianus acuminatus (former Scinax acuminatus, Fabrezi & Lavilla, 1992; Faivovich, 2002; Alcalde & Rosset, 2003; Alcalde et al., 2011), J. uruguayus, J. aff. pinimus (former Scinax uruguayus and Scinax aff. pinima, Alcalde et al., 2011; Rodrigues et al., 2017), Ololygon aromothyella and O. berthae (former Scinax berthae, Rodrigues et al., 2017; Alcalde et al., 2011; Faivovich, 2002), O. skuki (Rodrigues et al., 2017); Scinax granulatus and S. squalirostris (Rodrigues et al., 2017; Alcalde & Rosset, 2003), S. boulengeri (Rodrigues et al., 2017; Vera Candioti, 2007), S. fuscovariatus (Fabrezi & Vera, 1997), S. nasicus (Rodrigues et al., 2017; Vera Candioti, 2007; Vera Candioti, Lavilla & Echeverría, 2004; Fabrezi & Vera, 1997), S. ruber (Haas, 1996). For a complete overview of the findings of these studies see Appendix 1.

Several of the differences between the two species examined here present interesting avenues for future examination. For example, the processus ethmoidalis of the quadrate in S. ruber is wide, and it is not clearly distinct from the processus articularis. In contrast, the processes of D. labialis are easily distinguishable and similar to that described by Alcalde & Rosset (2003), who found similar features in Boana raniceps compared with the Scinax group (S. squalirostris and S. granulatus, Scinax ruber group). The palatoquadrate is similar but the processus ascendens of the palatoquadrate in D. labialis is wider than in S. ruber, and the distal side of the cornu trabeculae extend posteriorly toward the otic capsule. The anterior region of the palatoquadrate is distinctively broader in S. ruber than in D. labialis, and in S. ruber the dorsomedial process is wider than the ventromedial process in D. labialis.

When comparing the development of D. labilis with D. nanus (Vera Candioti, Lavilla & Echeverría, 2004 and Alcalde & Rosset, 2003), we found that D. labialis can be differentiated by the reduction of the buccopharyngeal and branchial basket structures and presence of processus quadrato etmoidale in ventral view. On the other hand, the information that is available for Scinax species (Fabrezi & Lavilla, 1992; Haas, 1996; Fabrezi & Vera, 1997; Faivovich, 2002; Alcalde & Rosset, 2003; Vera Candioti, Lavilla & Echeverría, 2004; Vera Candioti, 2007; Alcalde et al., 2011; Rodrigues et al., 2017) reveal that there are a numerous variations that requires extending the morphological studies in tadpoles.

Scinax ruber presents alae and corpus of suprarostral cartilage with deeper notches. The chondrocranium, hyobranchial apparatus, and the suprarostral body are joined syndesmotically as found by Vera Candioti (2007) in microphagous tadpoles of S. nasicus and S. boulengeri. Dendropsophus labialis, as Dendropsophus nanus, shows a suprarostral cartilage with corpus and alae forming a continuous structure, which is evidently associated with a deviation of the macrophogous mechanisms described by Alcalde & Rosset (2003).

The lateral development of the crista parotica is more prominent in S. ruber than in D. labialis. It is possible that some of the variations in the anatomical structures of the otic capsule are functionally related to perception of vocalizations (i.e., same species recognition) in adult stages, but experiments must be conducted to confirm the relationship of these anatomical structures with hearing physiological functions (Ruggero & Temchin, 2002; Boistel et al., 2013).

The chondrification of skull in S. ruber is faint when viewed laterally, and foramina are not clearly visualized. By contrast, in D. labialis much more blue coloration was observed. This could be due to abundant chondrification of these parts or the early developmental stages of this anatomical area, in which allowed differentiation of craniopalatine carotid foramina.

Although the sample size for the D. labialis is very small in comparison with S. ruber, D. labialis exhibited more ossified elements with stronger chondrification and less intraspecific variation, while S. ruber showed more intraspecific variation and less overall chondrification in the samples (Fig. 1). D. labialis presented uniformly stained (ossified) elements in all individuals (Table 3).

This variation between S. ruber and D. labialis could be caused by intrinsic factors that determine the timing of development or by extrinsic factors affecting osteogenesis (Vera & Ponssa, 2014). It may not be a coincidence that S. ruber is a generalist species and D. labialis is an endemic one (Frost, 2018).

Haas (1996) reported that the ceratohyalia II–IV are fused in Scinax ruber and Megophrys montana nasuta, characteristics that separate them from other species. We confirmed this observation in S. ruber but not in D. labialis. The ceratohyal in D. labialis has a process on the articular condyle that is not present in S. ruber. Alcalde & Rosset (2003) found this process in both S. granulatus and S. squalirostris. Spicules I–III on the posterior margin of the hypobranchial plate are present in D. labialis and S. ruber, but spicule IV is not.

Copula II is present in both species. Copula I is present in D. labialis as in S. squalirostris, but absent in S. ruber as in S. granulatus, Boana raniceps (Alcalde & Rosset, 2003), and Tlalocohyla smithii (Vera Candioti & Haas, 2004). Although the presence of copula I is extremely variable in hylids and is shared by all non-hylids (Vera Candioti & Haas, 2004), a relationship between this structure and the ecological function that it performs (e.g., prey utilization) has not been identified.

Additional characteristics of the developmental morphology of these species could place them with other hylids that have been studied previously. For example, the urostyle of D. labialis and S. ruber forms a bicondylar articulation with the sacral vertebra, and the condyles are widely separated. The shoulder girdle of both species present differences in the shape of the omosternum and sternum at GS 45. D. labialis and S. ruber present suprascapular processes in tadpoles and adults similar to those in other hylids (Hypsiboas lanciformis, De Sá, 1988; Boana pulchella, Hoyos et al., 2012; Pseudacris crucifer and Acris blanchardi, Havens, 2010 and A. crepitans, Maglia, Pugener & Mueller, 2007) but is absent in Scinax catharinae clade (Faivovich et al., 2005).

Variations of larval characters between Scinax and Dendropsophus have been included in several phylogenetic studies (Fabrezi & Vera, 1997; Haas, 1996; Haas, 1999; Haas, 2003; Alcalde & Rosset, 2003; Vera Candioti, 2007). In our study, the skeleton shows significant differences between the species S. ruber and D. labialis, the elements ossified in S. ruber exhibit more intraspecific variability than in D. labialis (see Table 3).

Regarding ossification sequence, the first bones ossified in the cranium were the exoccipital, the frontoparietal, and the parasphenoid by GS 36. Haas (1999) found that in S. ruber this occurred one stage later by GS37. Similar to those that Haas (1999) described for other hylids, the ossification of the vertebrae begins from the centra of the presacral vertebrae and continues ventrally along the notochord, forming osseous rings around the notochord in both species. We found that the ossification of the centra in both species we studied begins ventrally and proceeds dorsally. Haas (1999) recorded the transverse processes of presacral vertebrae II–III as the first to ossify, while we found that it was the ossification of neural arches proceeds from I to IX in D. labialis (GS37) and from I to III in S. ruber (GS36) (Fig. 4).

The detection of more intraspecific variability in S. ruber than in D. labialis could also be due to the presence of more intra-generic diversity in the S. ruber clade. Alcalde & Rosset (2003) associated the type of feeding with the development of the lateral anterohyal process of the ceratohyal, between species with macrophage larvae (Dendropsophus nanus), and scraping microphages (Boana pulchellus, Julianus acuminatus and S. nasicus). This may indicate that morphological characteristics of the jaw may be involved in the particular feeding behaviors of these tadpoles, and therefore these traits would help to distinguish the species (Appendix 1).

Differences between the ossification sequences of these two species are also evident when examining the ossification ranks and number of ossified bones. In particular, D. labialis has more ranks in the sequence and more elements that begin ossification prior to metamorphosis. With respect to the postcranium, the number of elements ossified appears earlier in D. labialis than in S. ruber. Because Gosner stages are based on external characteristics that rely on underlying skeletal change, it is only a relative measure of timing and should not be used as a way to compare species. Instead, we compared the relative timing of events in the ossification sequence by examining the order of onset of ossification of each element. Nunn & Smith (1998), on page 86, considered “ontogeny may be ordered by age, size, or stage; none of these measures are useful for comparing ontogeny across significantly divergent taxa”.

Table 4 outlines the ossification sequences of different species of the family Hylidae. The number of ranks that include elements of the skull and postcranium vary from one to five. The number of ranks increases when postcranial elements are included. Weisbecker & Mitgutsch (2010), Harrington, Harrison & Sheil (2013), and Sheil et al. (2014) used similar ranked ossification sequence data to reconstruct phylogenetic trees of amphibians in the families of Leptodactylidae, Ranidae, and Bufonidae. These researchers suggested using cranium and postcranium data, relating them to the type of development, and to include sequences of fossils, as far as possible.

Although the morphology and systematics of amphibians have been extensively studied (Cannatella & Trueb, 1988; De Sá & Hillis, 1990; Báez & Pugener, 2003; Roelants & Bossuyt, 2005; Faivovich et al., 2005; Frost et al., 2006; Pyron & Wiens, 2011; Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016), additional comprehensive descriptions of skeletal development and ossification sequences are needed to truly understand patterns of heterochrony in the group. Some of the biological implications of heterochrony, which are well known in amphibians (Alberch, 1985; Reilly, Wiley & Meinhardt, 1991), include changes in structure, and changes in the rate of growth of entire organisms (Raff, 1996; Smith, 2001; Smith, 2002; Smith, 2003). Some scholars have recognized that heterochrony may work as modules of developmental events with evolutionary implications that can promote or restrict the development of individual morphologies (Wagner, 1996).

Studies that have used statistical methods (e.g., Parsimov) to analyze ossification sequences have revealed heterochrony in the timing of onset of ossification in some cranial elements such as parasphenoid and prootic in S. ruber vs. H. pulchellus (Hoyos et al., 2012), or the frontoparietal, dentary, and maxilla in D. labialis vs. Pseudis platensis (Fabrezi & Goldberg, 2009). In our study, we found that the parasphenoid was the first element to ossify in both D. labialis and S. ruber, and the exoccipital, frontoparietal, and prootic were the second elements to ossify in both species.

It is possible that the difference in cartilage formation between the two species examined herein is due to paracrine factors induced in cells that express the mesodermal transcription factors involved in the activation of genes specific to cartilage (Gilbert, 2000; Kozhemyakina, Lassar & Zelzer, 2015); however, we did not account for these factors. Additionally, the intraspecific variation in the ossified elements between these species could be linked to specific genes (Raff, 1996).

Conclusions

The contribution of ontogenetic data (development and ossification sequences of skeletal structures) provides further information to help understand the interactions between ontogeny and phylogeny in morphological and ecological diversity of frogs. Ossification sequence data combined with evolutionary hypotheses may shed light on patterns of development to be used in future phylogenetic hypotheses. As Larson, De Sá & Arrieta (2003) suggested, “variation in chondrocranial morphology in larval anurans can be phylogenetically informative, even among closely related taxa”.

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