Chondrocranial and hyobranchial structure in two South American suctorial tadpoles of the genus Telmatobufo (Anura: Calyptocephalellidae)

Abstract

Chondrocranial and hyobranchial structure in two South American suctorial tadpoles of the genus Telmatobufo (Anura: Calyptocephalellidae). The chondrocranium, hyobranchium, rectus abdominis muscle, and epaxial musculature of Telmatobufo australis and T. ignotus are described. In addition, these structures were compared wih those of the non-suctorial Calyptocephalella gayi, the sister group of Telmatobufo.

Keywords

• Evolution
• larval morphology
• southern Chile
• suctorial tadpoles