Abstract
Most of the reproductive modes of frogs include an exotrophic tadpole, but a number of taxa have some form of endotrophic development that lacks a feeding tadpole stage. The dicroglossid frog genus Limnonectes ranges from China south into Indonesia. The breeding biologies of the approximately 60 described species display an unusual diversity that range from exotrophic tadpoles to endotrophic development in terrestrial nests. There have been mentions of oviductal production of typical, exotrophic tadpoles in an undescribed species of Limnonectes from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Here we examine newly collected specimens of this species, now described as L. larvaepartus and present the first substantial report on this unique breeding mode. Typical exotrophic tadpoles that are retained to an advanced developmental stage in the oviducts of a female frog are birthed into slow-flowing streams or small, non-flowing pools adjacent to the streams.
Highlights
Most reproductive modes of frogs include an exotrophic, or externally feeding tadpole [1], a sizeable number of frogs have some form of endotrophic development
This genus includes an unusual diversity of breeding biologies that range from exotrophic tadpoles to endotrophic development in terrestrial nests [4], and there have been mentions of an undescribed species of Limnonectes
V [5]) having the unique oviductal production of tadpoles that exhibit the morphology of typical exotrophic tadpoles [628]
Summary
Most reproductive modes of frogs include an exotrophic, or externally feeding tadpole [1], a sizeable number of frogs have some form of endotrophic development. These embryos obtain their developmental energy from parental sources (i.e., usually egg yolk) and a feeding tadpole stage is absent. The approximately 60 known species of the dicroglossid genus Limnonectes range from China south into Indonesia [3] This genus includes an unusual diversity of breeding biologies that range from exotrophic tadpoles to endotrophic development in terrestrial nests [4], and there have been mentions of an undescribed species of Limnonectes Typical exotrophic tadpoles are retained to an advanced developmental stage in the oviducts of female frogs and are birthed into slow-flowing streams
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