Naturally occurring variability in larval period length is associated with intraspecific differences in late tadpoles of a South American true toad

Abstract

The larval period in anurans is highly plastic. Even though larval period length and larval size have been the most studied characteristics showing intraspecific variability, other features such as morphology, behavior, food preferences and physiology have also been described as plastic. Metamorphic changes are triggered by thyroid and interrenal hormones, and environmental signals modulate the onset of metamorphosis via the hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis. The South American bufonid toad Rhinella arenarum from nearby Buenos Aires City has a larval period of 30–120 days under the same environmental conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate life-history traits in tadpoles from different localities and potential morphological differences among tadpoles with different larval period length. For this purpose, we reared under natural conditions tadpoles from two different localities nearby Buenos Aires City and in three different years measured their size at the end of metamorphosis and recorded their larval period length. The external appearance, histo-morphology and morphometry of the skin and kidney/interrenal complex were studied in metamorphs with short and long larval periods (SLP and LLP, respectively). We observed a larval period lasting 30–120 days in tadpoles from different localities or years. SLP metamorphs were smaller, darker, had less protruding eyes without eyelids, a thinner epidermis and fewer skin glands than LLP metamorphs. The secretion of skin glands from SLP tadpoles had acidic glycoconjugates. Kidney size was similar between LLP and SLP metamorphs, but the former had an adult-like histomorphology. Interrenal gland in LLP early and late climax tadpoles had cells with a high nucleus/cell diameter ratio, a sign of highly active steroidogenic cells. Overall, these results show that intraspecific variability in size, skin and interrenal gland development is associated with differences in larval period length. Distinct skin gland number and secretion, along with distinct interrenal histology at late climax, could have physiological consequences in the post-metamorphic life.