Development of late larval stages of the White-lipped Frog, Hylarana raniceps (Anura: Ranidae)

• Main Author: Muhammad Najib, Ruslan
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2015
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32431/6/Muhammad%20Najib%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32431/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Metamorphosis of anuran amphibians typically involves larval stages in which after an initial period of growth, the tadpoles develop into a frog or a toad. Tadpoles provide important details on morphology, population ecology and evolutionary of the anuran amphibian species. Since there is little documentation of the anuran larvae on Borneo, the White-lipped Frog, Hylarana raniceps tadpole was staged for its larval development. The development staging table is recorded starting from Stage 24 until complete metamorphosis. Information of the larval development includes time taken for metamorphosis, measurement on Total Length and Body Length with changes in limb bud and tail regression also recorded. In captivity, the growth and development of Hylarana raniceps takes about 60 days for metamorphosis from Stage 24 onwards, and several factors need to be considered. The staging process of Hylarana raniceps tadpoles is documented by referring to Gosner ( 1960), which provided standardizes details on each stage of larvae.