Staging of larval polypedates Otilophus (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

• Main Author: Siti Hajar, Ariffin
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2014
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/33444/2/SITI%20HAJAR%20BINTI%20ARIFFIN.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/33444/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

The staging of larvae is important to understand the natural history of anuran amphibians, as it undergoes dramatic changes in morphological form. A large tree frog, Polypedates otilophus is staged for its larval development. A total of 13 individual tadpoles and two clutches of foam nests of P. otilophus were collected from the Frog Pond of Kubah National Park. The larval development is recorded starting from Stage 26 until complete metamorphosis. The information of changes in morphological features; limb development and tail resorption, and time taken (in days) are recorded. Polypedates otilophus took 94 to 108 days to complete metamorphosis, starting from the day of hatching. Gosner (1960) standardised staging table is referred in documenting the metamorphosis of Polypedates otilophus.