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Terrestrial larval development and nitrogen excretion in the afro-tropical pig-nosed frog, Hemisus marmoratus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2005

T. Ulmar Grafe ,
Stefan K. Kaminsky  and
K. Eduard Linsenmair
T. Ulmar Grafe
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Stefan K. Kaminsky
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
K. Eduard Linsenmair
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract

In general, amphibian larvae dispose of nitrogenous wastes as ammonia and change to urea excretion during metamorphosis (Balinsky 1970). Ammonia excretion, however, poses a problem for tadpoles and embryos that live in a limited volume of fluid because it is toxic in higher concentrations. One solution is urea excretion or ureotelism. In amphibians it occurs in species with terrestrial modes of reproduction when larvae develop within the uterus as in the ovoviviparous Salamandra salamandra (Schindelmeiser & Greven 1981), when embryos develop in foam nests as in Leptodactylus bufonius (Shoemaker & McClanahan 1973), or when offspring develop in brood pouches as in Gastrotheca riobambae (Alcocer et al. 1992).

Keywords

AnuraHemisotidaeIvory Coastnitrogen excretiontadpolesureotelism
Type
Brief Report
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 219 - 222
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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