The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in squamate reptiles (lizards... more The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) is complicated by missing data in many lineages, erroneous reports, and often questionable inferences on state homology. Therefore, despite the large effort, the reconstruction of the ancestral sex determination in squamate reptiles is still controversial. With the hope to shed light on this problem, we aspired to identify the sex chromosome gene content in Dibamus deharvengi, the representative of the family Dibamidae, the putative sister clade to all other squamates. Our analyses revealed XX/XY sex‐determination system in D. deharvengi: the X chromosome contains genes with homologues scattered across chicken chromosomes 8, 12, 13, 18, 30, and 33, and the Y chromosome seems to largely degenerate. To the best of our knowledge, this combination has never been reported to form sex chromosomes in any amniote lineage. It suggests that the sex chromosomes can represent an apomorp...
We compare reproductive features, development, and larval morphology in three closely related spe... more We compare reproductive features, development, and larval morphology in three closely related species of sticky frogs (Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838) inhabiting the lowland and mountain forests of Vietnam and displaying a variety of reproductive modes. While K. interlineatus breeds in open temporary ponds, K. honbaensis and K. cryptophonus are phytotelm-breeders using tree hollows and bamboo stems for reproduction. Their tadpoles also differ in trophic specialization: larval K. interlineatus are typical suspension-feeders, whereas K. honbaensis and K. cryptophonus are obligatorily oophagous. All three species differ in egg and clutch sizes, duration of embryonal period and hatching stage, and the structure of the larval digestive tract and skeleton. Based on external and internal morphology, we conclude that tadpoles of K. interlineatus and K. cryptophonus represent two “extremes” of the adaptive spectrum of microhylid larvae, while K. honbaensis displays a set of transitory traits. Rel...
FIGURE 6. Variation in life coloration of Oligodon arenarius sp. nov.: (A) male paratype ZMMU R-1... more FIGURE 6. Variation in life coloration of Oligodon arenarius sp. nov.: (A) male paratype ZMMU R-14002, (B) female paratype ZMMU R-14002, (C) female paratype VNMN 04724, (D) female paratype ZMMU R-14504 in situ (while swallowing a frog). Photos by V. Trounov (A,B), N. Poyarkov (C) and A. Vassilieva (D).
<i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> <b>Tadpole description.</b> External larval m... more <i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> <b>Tadpole description.</b> External larval morphology of <i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> is described based on eight tadpoles (Stages 37–38) from Binh Chau–Phuok Buu NR (ZMMU A-7571) and shown in Fig. 3 A,B; the main morphometric characters and body proportions are given in Table 3. In dorsal view (Fig. 3A), body broadly oval, with the maximum width at the gills level; snout bluntly rounded. In lateral view (Fig. 3B), body depressed dorsoventrally, especially in its rostral part. Eyes lateral, relatively small; pupils oriented laterally. Nostrils closed at the stages under description. Very thin nasolacrimal groove extending laterally from the narial protuberances to the anteroventral margin of the orbit. Spiracle ventral, medial, transversal, located at the rear part of the belly; relatively wide, slit-like (Fig. 5B). Vent tube medial, oblique; vent opening located at the ventral edge of the ventral fin. Tail moderately long, lanceolate, with a rather broadly tapering, rounded tip. Tail musculature rather weakly developed. Tail fins tall, reaching their maximum height at the medium third of its length. Dorsal fin originating slightly anterior to the body-tail junction, on the rear dorsum, nearly equal to or slightly lower than the ventral fin. Small patch (1.2–1.5 mm in length) of thickened skin visible on the base of dorsal fin posterior to body-tail junction. Mouth slightly upturned, dorsoterminal, without keratinized elements. Upper labium short, arched, deeply concave from the dorsal view, with a medial notch; lateral flaps slightly projecting forwards beyond the snout edge. Lower labium inverted W-shaped, with two smooth semicircular lateral flanges fringed with a row of short delicate papillae (Fig. 6B). <b>Coloration.</b> Vital coloration is almost uniformly light-brown above, with a delicate darker marbled pattern; belly and spiracle membrane are transparent; tail axis is darkly pigmented, dorsal fin has scarce brownish-grey speckling, ventral fin is almost transparent. Iris is b [...]
<i>Kalophrynus honbaensis</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 4941 (fie... more <i>Kalophrynus honbaensis</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 4941 (field number ABV-00320), adult male from the vicinity of the Yersin station on Hon Ba Mountain, Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam (coordinates 12 °07' 16 " N, 108 ° 56 ' 55 " E, elevation 1500 m a.s.l.), collected by A.B. Vassilieva on 19 June 2013. <b>Paratype.</b> ZMMU A- 4943 (field number ABV-00302), adult male collected by A.B. Vassilieva on 16 of June 2013 in the same area with holotype. <b>Diagnosis.</b> The species is allocated to <i>Kalophrynus</i> based on the following characters considered diagnostic for the genus (Parker 1934, Bourret 1942, Inger, 1966): one or more transverse dermal ridges across the palate anteriorly to the oesophagus; tips of digits not dilated to disks; no spine-like projections at heel or elbow; snout short, pointed; tympanum visible; pupil horizontal; inner metatarsal tubercle low, not shovel-like; skin thick and glandular. The new species is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following features: (1) SVL 26.7–36.8 mm in males; (2) snout pointed, slightly sloped ventrally; (3) canthus rostralis distinct; (4) males without distinguishable spines on the mandible margins; (5) males without nuptial pads on fingers; (6) tympanum distinct, smaller than eye in diameter; (7) toe webbing moderate; (8) outer metatarsal tubercle present; (9) light dorsolateral line absent; (10) dark ocelli in the inguinal region present, large, without distinct light bordering; (11) anterior palatal dermal ridge on the palate developed, parallel to posterior palatal dermal ridge. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult male (Fig. 9 AB) with well-developed oblong testes; measurements are given in the Table 4. Habitus stout, with body widest in lumbar area. Head relatively short (HL/SVL 0.3), wider than long (HL/HW 0.82), triangular. Snout pointed, short, about one third of head length (SL/HL 0.33), sloping in profile (Fig. 9 C) and distinctly projecting beyond lower jaw; canthus ros [...]
FIGURE 5. Differences in coloration (A, B) and webbing development (C, D) between juvenile (appro... more FIGURE 5. Differences in coloration (A, B) and webbing development (C, D) between juvenile (approximately one month after the completion of metamorphosis) and adult Rhacophorus helenae. Photographs by V. Trounov.
FIGURE 2. Holotype (ZMMU R-13865) in life, dorsal (A) and ventral view (B). Photos by Anna B. Vas... more FIGURE 2. Holotype (ZMMU R-13865) in life, dorsal (A) and ventral view (B). Photos by Anna B. Vassilieva.
<i>Leptolalax pyrrhops</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 5208 (field ... more <i>Leptolalax pyrrhops</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 5208 (field number ABV-00148), adult female from Loc Bac forest (operated by Loc Bac Forest Enterprise), Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 10 of April 2013. <b>Paratypes.</b> ZMMU A- 4873, two adult males (individual field numbers ABV-00213 and ABV-00215) collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013 in mountain forest approximately 1700 m from the area of holotype collection, within the Loc Bac forest, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (11 ° 44 '07" N, 107 ° 43 ' 17 " E, elevation 1100 m. a.s.l.), and four adult females collected in the same area as male paratypes on 13 of April 2013 (individual field numbers ABV-00157–00158) and on 15 of April 2013 (individual field numbers ABV-00176 and ABV-00214). ZISP 12041 (field number ABV-00212), adult female from Loc Bac forest, Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013. VNMN A 2015.02 (field number ABV-00177), adult female from Loc Bac forest, Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013. <b>Etymology:</b> The specific epithet is a noun in the nominative case, derived from Greek " <i>pyrrhos</i> " for "firecolored" and Greek " <i>ops</i> " for "eye", in reference to the iris color of the new species. <b>Recommended vernacular name.</b> The recommended common name in English is " <i>Orange-eyed litter frog</i> ", referring to the beautiful iris coloration of the new species. The recommended common name in Vietnamese is " <i>Cóc Mày Mắt Cam</i> ". <b>Diagnosis.</b> The species is assigned to the genus <i>Leptolalax</i> based on the fo [...]
This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vas... more This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vassilieva, Anna B. (2021): Larval morphologyof three syntopic species of Kaloula Gray (Anura: Microhylidae) from Vietnam. Zootaxa 4952 (1): 71-86, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4952.1.4
The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in squamate reptiles (lizards... more The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) is complicated by missing data in many lineages, erroneous reports, and often questionable inferences on state homology. Therefore, despite the large effort, the reconstruction of the ancestral sex determination in squamate reptiles is still controversial. With the hope to shed light on this problem, we aspired to identify the sex chromosome gene content in Dibamus deharvengi, the representative of the family Dibamidae, the putative sister clade to all other squamates. Our analyses revealed XX/XY sex‐determination system in D. deharvengi: the X chromosome contains genes with homologues scattered across chicken chromosomes 8, 12, 13, 18, 30, and 33, and the Y chromosome seems to largely degenerate. To the best of our knowledge, this combination has never been reported to form sex chromosomes in any amniote lineage. It suggests that the sex chromosomes can represent an apomorp...
We compare reproductive features, development, and larval morphology in three closely related spe... more We compare reproductive features, development, and larval morphology in three closely related species of sticky frogs (Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838) inhabiting the lowland and mountain forests of Vietnam and displaying a variety of reproductive modes. While K. interlineatus breeds in open temporary ponds, K. honbaensis and K. cryptophonus are phytotelm-breeders using tree hollows and bamboo stems for reproduction. Their tadpoles also differ in trophic specialization: larval K. interlineatus are typical suspension-feeders, whereas K. honbaensis and K. cryptophonus are obligatorily oophagous. All three species differ in egg and clutch sizes, duration of embryonal period and hatching stage, and the structure of the larval digestive tract and skeleton. Based on external and internal morphology, we conclude that tadpoles of K. interlineatus and K. cryptophonus represent two “extremes” of the adaptive spectrum of microhylid larvae, while K. honbaensis displays a set of transitory traits. Rel...
FIGURE 6. Variation in life coloration of Oligodon arenarius sp. nov.: (A) male paratype ZMMU R-1... more FIGURE 6. Variation in life coloration of Oligodon arenarius sp. nov.: (A) male paratype ZMMU R-14002, (B) female paratype ZMMU R-14002, (C) female paratype VNMN 04724, (D) female paratype ZMMU R-14504 in situ (while swallowing a frog). Photos by V. Trounov (A,B), N. Poyarkov (C) and A. Vassilieva (D).
<i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> <b>Tadpole description.</b> External larval m... more <i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> <b>Tadpole description.</b> External larval morphology of <i>Kaloula mediolineata</i> is described based on eight tadpoles (Stages 37–38) from Binh Chau–Phuok Buu NR (ZMMU A-7571) and shown in Fig. 3 A,B; the main morphometric characters and body proportions are given in Table 3. In dorsal view (Fig. 3A), body broadly oval, with the maximum width at the gills level; snout bluntly rounded. In lateral view (Fig. 3B), body depressed dorsoventrally, especially in its rostral part. Eyes lateral, relatively small; pupils oriented laterally. Nostrils closed at the stages under description. Very thin nasolacrimal groove extending laterally from the narial protuberances to the anteroventral margin of the orbit. Spiracle ventral, medial, transversal, located at the rear part of the belly; relatively wide, slit-like (Fig. 5B). Vent tube medial, oblique; vent opening located at the ventral edge of the ventral fin. Tail moderately long, lanceolate, with a rather broadly tapering, rounded tip. Tail musculature rather weakly developed. Tail fins tall, reaching their maximum height at the medium third of its length. Dorsal fin originating slightly anterior to the body-tail junction, on the rear dorsum, nearly equal to or slightly lower than the ventral fin. Small patch (1.2–1.5 mm in length) of thickened skin visible on the base of dorsal fin posterior to body-tail junction. Mouth slightly upturned, dorsoterminal, without keratinized elements. Upper labium short, arched, deeply concave from the dorsal view, with a medial notch; lateral flaps slightly projecting forwards beyond the snout edge. Lower labium inverted W-shaped, with two smooth semicircular lateral flanges fringed with a row of short delicate papillae (Fig. 6B). <b>Coloration.</b> Vital coloration is almost uniformly light-brown above, with a delicate darker marbled pattern; belly and spiracle membrane are transparent; tail axis is darkly pigmented, dorsal fin has scarce brownish-grey speckling, ventral fin is almost transparent. Iris is b [...]
<i>Kalophrynus honbaensis</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 4941 (fie... more <i>Kalophrynus honbaensis</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 4941 (field number ABV-00320), adult male from the vicinity of the Yersin station on Hon Ba Mountain, Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam (coordinates 12 °07' 16 " N, 108 ° 56 ' 55 " E, elevation 1500 m a.s.l.), collected by A.B. Vassilieva on 19 June 2013. <b>Paratype.</b> ZMMU A- 4943 (field number ABV-00302), adult male collected by A.B. Vassilieva on 16 of June 2013 in the same area with holotype. <b>Diagnosis.</b> The species is allocated to <i>Kalophrynus</i> based on the following characters considered diagnostic for the genus (Parker 1934, Bourret 1942, Inger, 1966): one or more transverse dermal ridges across the palate anteriorly to the oesophagus; tips of digits not dilated to disks; no spine-like projections at heel or elbow; snout short, pointed; tympanum visible; pupil horizontal; inner metatarsal tubercle low, not shovel-like; skin thick and glandular. The new species is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following features: (1) SVL 26.7–36.8 mm in males; (2) snout pointed, slightly sloped ventrally; (3) canthus rostralis distinct; (4) males without distinguishable spines on the mandible margins; (5) males without nuptial pads on fingers; (6) tympanum distinct, smaller than eye in diameter; (7) toe webbing moderate; (8) outer metatarsal tubercle present; (9) light dorsolateral line absent; (10) dark ocelli in the inguinal region present, large, without distinct light bordering; (11) anterior palatal dermal ridge on the palate developed, parallel to posterior palatal dermal ridge. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult male (Fig. 9 AB) with well-developed oblong testes; measurements are given in the Table 4. Habitus stout, with body widest in lumbar area. Head relatively short (HL/SVL 0.3), wider than long (HL/HW 0.82), triangular. Snout pointed, short, about one third of head length (SL/HL 0.33), sloping in profile (Fig. 9 C) and distinctly projecting beyond lower jaw; canthus ros [...]
FIGURE 5. Differences in coloration (A, B) and webbing development (C, D) between juvenile (appro... more FIGURE 5. Differences in coloration (A, B) and webbing development (C, D) between juvenile (approximately one month after the completion of metamorphosis) and adult Rhacophorus helenae. Photographs by V. Trounov.
FIGURE 2. Holotype (ZMMU R-13865) in life, dorsal (A) and ventral view (B). Photos by Anna B. Vas... more FIGURE 2. Holotype (ZMMU R-13865) in life, dorsal (A) and ventral view (B). Photos by Anna B. Vassilieva.
<i>Leptolalax pyrrhops</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 5208 (field ... more <i>Leptolalax pyrrhops</i> sp. nov. <b>Holotype.</b> ZMMU A- 5208 (field number ABV-00148), adult female from Loc Bac forest (operated by Loc Bac Forest Enterprise), Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 10 of April 2013. <b>Paratypes.</b> ZMMU A- 4873, two adult males (individual field numbers ABV-00213 and ABV-00215) collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013 in mountain forest approximately 1700 m from the area of holotype collection, within the Loc Bac forest, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (11 ° 44 '07" N, 107 ° 43 ' 17 " E, elevation 1100 m. a.s.l.), and four adult females collected in the same area as male paratypes on 13 of April 2013 (individual field numbers ABV-00157–00158) and on 15 of April 2013 (individual field numbers ABV-00176 and ABV-00214). ZISP 12041 (field number ABV-00212), adult female from Loc Bac forest, Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013. VNMN A 2015.02 (field number ABV-00177), adult female from Loc Bac forest, Loc Bao Commune, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (coordinates 11 ° 44 ' 17 " N, 107 ° 42 ' 25 " E, elevation 830 m. a.s.l.), collected by E.A. Galoyan and A.B. Vassilieva on 15 of April 2013. <b>Etymology:</b> The specific epithet is a noun in the nominative case, derived from Greek " <i>pyrrhos</i> " for "firecolored" and Greek " <i>ops</i> " for "eye", in reference to the iris color of the new species. <b>Recommended vernacular name.</b> The recommended common name in English is " <i>Orange-eyed litter frog</i> ", referring to the beautiful iris coloration of the new species. The recommended common name in Vietnamese is " <i>Cóc Mày Mắt Cam</i> ". <b>Diagnosis.</b> The species is assigned to the genus <i>Leptolalax</i> based on the fo [...]
This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vas... more This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vassilieva, Anna B. (2021): Larval morphologyof three syntopic species of Kaloula Gray (Anura: Microhylidae) from Vietnam. Zootaxa 4952 (1): 71-86, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4952.1.4
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