Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The structure of the male proboscis in the New Guinean tree frogs, Litoria pronimia and Litoria havina (Anura : Hylidae)

J. I. Menzies A E and G. R. Johnston B C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

B School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

D School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: james.menzies@adelaide.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 63(3) 175-180 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO15016
Submitted: 27 March 2015  Accepted: 15 June 2015   Published: 7 July 2015

Abstract

At least three species of New Guinean tree frogs (Litoria) are sexually dimorphic in that the snout of the male is projected into a proboscis, which is poorly developed or absent in females. In this paper the anatomy of the proboscis in the male Litoria pronimia is described and compared with the structure of the smaller proboscis of Litoria havina, described previously. We note that it appears to be erectile, speculate on the possible method of erection and suggest directions for future research.


References

Blaustein, A. R., and Walls, S. C. (1994). Aggregation and kin recognition. In ‘Amphibian Biology. Vol. 2’. (Eds H. Heatwole and G. T. Barthalmus.) Chapter 4. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Carter, D. B. (1979). Structure and function of the subcutaneous lymph sacs in the Anura (Amphibia). Journal of Herpetology 13, 321–327.
Structure and function of the subcutaneous lymph sacs in the Anura (Amphibia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Churchill, E. D., Nakasawa, F., and Drinker, C. K. (1927). The circulation of body fluids in the frog. The Journal of Physiology 63, 304–308.
The circulation of body fluids in the frog.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaB1cXjs1Gl&md5=0943ff979e69982e9f381e674a6caedfCAS | 16993891PubMed |

Dawley, E. M. (1998). Olfaction. In ‘Amphibian Biology. Vol. 3’. (Eds H. Heatwole, and E. M. Dawley.) Chapter 9. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

de Villiers, C. G. S. (1934). On the morphology of the epipubis, the Nobelian bones and the phallic organ of Ascaphus truei Stejneger. Anatomischer Anzeiger 78, 23–46.

Erspammer, V. (1994). Bioactive secretions of the amphibian integument. In ‘Amphibian Biology. Vol. 1’. (Eds H. Heatwole, and G. T. Barthalmus.) Chapter 9. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Francis, E. T. B. (1934). ‘The Anatomy of the Salamander.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford.)

Gosner, K. L. (1960). A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica 16, 183–190.

Günther, R. (2006a). A remarkable new species of the genus Litoria (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae) from north-western New Guinea. Zoologischer Reihe 82, 179–190.
A remarkable new species of the genus Litoria (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae) from north-western New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Günther, R. (2006b). Derived reproductive modes in New Guinean anuran amphibians and description of a new species with paternal care in the genus Callulops (Microhylidae). Journal of Zoology 268, 153–170.
Derived reproductive modes in New Guinean anuran amphibians and description of a new species with paternal care in the genus Callulops (Microhylidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Halliday, T. R., and Tejedo, M. (1995). Intersexual selection and alternative mating behaviour. In ‘Amphibian Biology. Vol. 2’. (Eds H. Heatwole and R. K. Sullivan.) Chapter 1 (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Hews, D. K. (1996). Size and scaling of sexually-selected traits in the lizard Uta palmeri. Journal of Zoology 238, 743–757.
Size and scaling of sexually-selected traits in the lizard Uta palmeri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Houck, L. D., and Sever, D. M. (1994). Role of the skin in reproduction and behaviour. In ‘Amphibian Biology. Vol. 1’. (Eds H. Heatwole and G. T. Barthalmus.) Chapter 10. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Huxley, J. S. (1932). ‘Problems of Relative Growth.’ (Dial: New York.)

Hyndman, D., and Menzies, J. I. (1990). Rain forests of the upper Fly River, an ecological study. Journal of Biogeography 17, 241–273.
Rain forests of the upper Fly River, an ecological study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnston, G. R., Lee, M. S. Y., and Surasinghe, T. D. (2013). Morphology and allometry suggest multiple origins of rostral appendages in Sri Lankan agamid lizards. Journal of Zoology 289, 1–9.
Morphology and allometry suggest multiple origins of rostral appendages in Sri Lankan agamid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kraus, F. (2007). A new species of tree frog of the genus Litoria (Hylidae) from the Louisiade Islands, Papua New Guinea. Herpetologica 63, 365–374.
A new species of tree frog of the genus Litoria (Hylidae) from the Louisiade Islands, Papua New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martof, B. S. (1962). Some observations on the role of olfaction among Salientian amphibians. Physiological Zoology 35, 270–272.

McAlpine, J., Keig, G., and Falls, R. (1983). ‘Climate of Papua New Guinea.’ (Australian National University: Canberra.)

Menzies, J. (1969). A new species of tree frog (Hyla) from Papua. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 93, 165–168.

Menzies, J. I. (1993). Systematics of Litoria iris (Anura: Hylidae) and its allies in New Guinea and a note on sexual dimorphism in the group. Australian Journal of Zoology 41, 225–255.
Systematics of Litoria iris (Anura: Hylidae) and its allies in New Guinea and a note on sexual dimorphism in the group.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Menzies, J. I. (2006). ‘The frogs of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.’ (Pensoft Publishers: Sofia.)

Menzies, J. I., and Tyler, M. J. (1977). Systematics and adaptations of some Papuan microhylid frogs which live underground. Journal of Zoology 183, 431–464.
Systematics and adaptations of some Papuan microhylid frogs which live underground.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pizzatto, L., and Shine, R. (2009). Native Australian frogs avoid the scent of invasive cane toads. Austral Ecology 34, 77–82.
Native Australian frogs avoid the scent of invasive cane toads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rand, A. S. (1961). A suggested function of the ornamentation of East African chameleons. Copeia 1961, 411–414.
A suggested function of the ornamentation of East African chameleons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richards, S. (2007). A new species of ‘spike-nosed’ frog from northern New Guinea (Anura: Hylidae: Litoria). Zootaxa 1525, 51–59.
A new species of ‘spike-nosed’ frog from northern New Guinea (Anura: Hylidae: Litoria).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rosauer, D. A. N., Laffan, S. W., Crisp, M. D., Donnellan, S. C., and Cook, L. G. (2009). Phylogenetic endemism: a new approach for identifying geographical concentrations of evolutionary history. Molecular Ecology 18, 4061–4072.
Phylogenetic endemism: a new approach for identifying geographical concentrations of evolutionary history.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sanuyi, D., and Joly, P. (2009). The role of olfaction and audition in the orientation of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens). Herpetologica 28, 258–260.

Tyler, M. J. (1971). Observations on anuran myo-integumental attachments associated with the vocal sac apparatus. Journal of Natural History 5, 225–231.
Observations on anuran myo-integumental attachments associated with the vocal sac apparatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Uchiyama, M., and Konno, N. (2006). Hormonal regulation of ion and water transport in anuran amphibians. General and Comparative Endocrinology 147, 54–61.
Hormonal regulation of ion and water transport in anuran amphibians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XksVOit7g%3D&md5=fd54fa66f0b87a0df4aa981b0304c981CAS | 16472810PubMed |

Van Noorden, R. (2010). Images of the year. Nature 468, 1001–1138.

Wells, K. D. (2007). ‘The Ecology and Behaviour of Amphibians.’ (University of Chicago Press: Chicago.)

Zweifel, R. G. (2000). Partition of the Australopapuan microhylid frog genus Sphenophryne with descriptions of new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 253, 1–130.
Partition of the Australopapuan microhylid frog genus Sphenophryne with descriptions of new species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |