Life history in three related species of Boana pulchella group (Anura: Hylidae) from central Argentina: morphometrics, bioacoustics, age and growth

Abstract

We compare the acoustic, morphometric, and life history traits of three species from the Boana pulchella group in central area Argentina, B. pulchella, B. cordobae, and B. riojana, with the aim of contributing to their taxonomic status and natural history. We provide information on the spectral and temporal features of the advertisement calls of each species. The three species showed significant differences in all acoustics variables: most of the call properties of B. pulchella exhibited lower values, except for frequencies, with had higher values. Morphometric variables and age were positively correlated in the three species,showing significant differences among them, with males of B. riojana being larger and B. pulchella being smaller in size. The minimum age at sexual maturity (2 years) was the same in the three species. The other life history variables (average age, longevity, potential reproductive lifespan, modal age) differed significantly: B. riojana showed lower values and B. cordobae the highest values. The growth coefficient was higher in B. cordobae and lower in B. pulchella. The maximum asymptotic size is higher in B. riojana and lower in B. pulchella, but the differences are not significant. Our results provide elements for the specific recognition of these three species and valuable information for taxonomic and phylogenetic approaches that help explain evolutionary and ecological phenomena.