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. 2014 Dec 31;9(12):e115884.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115884. eCollection 2014.

A novel reproductive mode in frogs: a new species of fanged frog with internal fertilization and birth of tadpoles

Djoko T Iskandar  1 , Ben J Evans  2 , Jimmy A McGuire  3
Affiliations

A novel reproductive mode in frogs: a new species of fanged frog with internal fertilization and birth of tadpoles

Djoko T Iskandar et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

Abstract

We describe a new species of fanged frog (Limnonectes larvaepartus) that is unique among anurans in having both internal fertilization and birth of tadpoles. The new species is endemic to Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. This is the fourth valid species of Limnonectes described from Sulawesi despite that the radiation includes at least 15 species and possibly many more. Fewer than a dozen of the 6455 species of frogs in the world are known to have internal fertilization, and of these, all but the new species either deposit fertilized eggs or give birth to froglets.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Images of the holotype of Limnonectes larvaepartus (MZB.Amph.23755) in (a) lateral, (b) dorsal, and (c) ventral view.
Ventral views of the right foot (d) and right hand (e) are also presented.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Images of Limnonectes larvaepartus.
(a) MVZ 268323 (male, left) and MVZ 268307 (female, right) collected from Desa Uaemate along the Tasio-Tibo Road, Kabupatan Mamuju, Provinsi Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Island (02.61287S, 119.14238 E, 89 m elev.); (b) Limnonectes larvaepartus female (MVZ 268426) with tadpoles removed from the oviduct. Note the large yolk reserves available to the tadpoles; (c) An in situ adult male L. larvaepartus (JAM 14234) observed calling while perched on the edge of a small pool 2 m away from a 2 m wide stream; several L. larvaepartus tadpoles were present in the pool including the two visible within the yellow circle; (d) dorsal and ventral views of ∼stage 25 L. larvaepartus tadpoles (JAM 14271) released by a pregnant female (JAM 14237) at the moment of capture.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Distribution map (left panel) depicting the range of Limnonectes larvaepartus.
The right panel shows the phylogenetic position of L. larvaepartus, with different symbol shapes denoting regional genetic structure in the species.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Emerson SB, Inger RF, Iskandar DT (2000) Molecular phylogenetics and Evolution of fanged Frogs. Mol Phylogenet Evol 16:131–142. - PubMed
    1. Evans BJ, Brown RM, McGuire JA, Supriatna J, Andayani N, et al. (2003) Phylogenetics of fanged frogs; testing biogeographical hypotheses at the interface of the Asian and Australian faunal zones. Syst Biol 526:794–819. - PubMed
    1. Setiadi MI, McGuire JA, Brown RM, Zubairi M, Iskandar DT, et al. (2011) Adaptive radiation and ecological opportunity in Sulawesi and Philippine fanged frogs (Limnonectes) Communities. Amer Nat 178:221–240. - PubMed
    1. Iskandar DT, Tjan KN (1996) The Amphibians and Reptiles of Sulawesi: with notes on the distribution and chromosomal number of frogs. Proc. 1st Intl. Conf. Eastern Indonesian-Australian Vertebrates. Manado pp. 39–46.
    1. Wake MH (2003) Reproductive modes, ontogenies, and the evolution of body form. Anim Biol 53:209–223.

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