Stable individual variation in ventral spotting patterns in Phyllomedusa trinitatis (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) and other Phyllomedusa species : a minimally invasive method for recognizing individuals

Smith, Joanna M. and Bland, Adam and Gourevitch, Eleanor and Hoskisson, Paul A. and Downie, J. Roger (2019) Stable individual variation in ventral spotting patterns in Phyllomedusa trinitatis (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) and other Phyllomedusa species : a minimally invasive method for recognizing individuals. Phyllomedusa, 18 (1). pp. 13-26. ISSN 1519-1397

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    Abstract

    We describe a distinctive pattern of individually variable white 'islands' and dots on the ventral surfaces of the throat and forearm regions of male and female Phyllomedusa trinitatis. Crucially, we report from captive-reared individuals that these patterns are ontogenetically stable. We have used these patterns to recognize individual frogs in populations of 60 and more. Examination of the ventral surfaces of other Phyllomedusa species in museum specimens and from published accounts suggests that use of these patterns provides a generally useful, minimally invasive recognition method in this genus. We find that species previously classed as Phyllomedusa but now regarded as belonging to different genera lack these patterns.

    Author(s):Smith, Joanna M., Bland, Adam, Gourevitch, Eleanor, Hoskisson, Paul A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4332-1640 and Downie, J. Roger
    Item type:Article
    ID code:69733
    Keywords:individual recognition, Trinidad leaf frogs, ventral patterns, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, Animal Science and Zoology, Pharmacology (medical)
    Subjects:Medicine > Therapeutics. Pharmacology
    Department:Faculty of Science > Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:10 Sep 2019 13:53
    Last modified:09 Nov 2019 04:38
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/69733
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