Métamorphose expérimentale de la peau de queue du têtard d'Alytesobstetricans Laur. normalement destinée à dégénérer

Summary In the tadpole of the Batrachian (Alytes obstetricans Laur.) the skin of the tail, normally destined to degenerate when metamorphosis takes place, remains contrary to some others species in a living state and is metamorphosed as its host if grafted onto the body.     

Analyse des akustischen Geschlechtererkennungsmechanismus (Befreiungsrufe) bei Kröten (GenusBufo)

Summary The release calls of male European toads (B. bufo L.,B. calamita Laur.,B. viridis Laur.) have been described and recorded in the form of spectrograms and oscillograms. While only 1 type of release call is uttered byB. bufo, inB. viridis andB. calamita 2 and 3 types respectively were found. The latter 2 species show a close relationship,B. calamita being the most highly developed toad in Europe.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of an SRIF-like system in the brain of the reptile: Lacerta muralis Laur

Summary The distribution of an SRIF-like substance in the brain of normal lizards (Lacerta muralis Laur.) has been determined. SRIF is shown to be present in neural cell bodies in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the hypothalamo-hypophysial tractus and the median eminence.Contrat INSERM, No. 74.1.444.35.     

The chromosomes ofBufo rubropunctatus andBufo chilensis (Anura,Bufonidae) and other species of thespinolosus group

Summary The chromosomes ofBufo rubropunctatus andB. chilensis (on basis of adults) are described for the first time. These chromosomic sets are compared with the karyotypes ofB. spinolosus andB. variegatus and other species ofspinolosus group. The importance of the secondary constrictions applied to the phylogeny ofBufo are discussed.Supported by Proyecto N⁰ S-77-47, Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Austral de Chile.I would like to thank Dr J. M. Cei for collecting the Argentinian toads. Mr N. Diaz collected the specimens from Santiago, Chile.The technical assistence of Sonia Lacrampe is acknowledged with appreciation.     

Serologisch-hämatologische und immunologische Untersuchungen an winterschlafenden Fledermäusen (Myotis myotis S.)

Summary Antibody deficiency in hibernating bats (Myotis myotis S.) was shown by precipitin reaction. The-globulins in serum of hibernating bats decreased to one half of the normal value. There is significant leukopenia, lymphopenia and eosinopenia. Injected bovine albumin was completely removed within 9 days in active animals, in torpid animals only 1/25 was absorbed from the 6th to the 23rd day.     

Genome size in the green toad (Bufo viridis) group

Summary Specimens of the green toad,Bufo viridis, from Morocco to Kirgizistan, have identical DNA amounts per erythrocyte nucleus. 1 specimen from Kirgizistan is a tetraploid. Of 3 closely related species,B. calamita andB. brongersmai have about the same DNA amount asB. viridis, whileB. latastii from Afghanistan has 36% more DNA per nucleus.     

Response of serum calcium to administration of an extract from Stannius corpuscles in the anurans

Summary The effect of i.p. injection of an aqueous extract of Stannius corpuscles (10 mg/ml/100 g b.wt) on serum calcium levels was investigated inRana cyanophlyctis andBufo andersonii. This treatment evokes in both species hypocalcemia over a period of 1–4 h, followed by hypercalcemia at 6 h, with a return to control at 8 h.     

Differenzierendes Kaulquappen-Fressen durch Molche

Summary Differential predation on tadpoles by newts (Triturus). 4 EuropeanTriturus species (T. alpestris, T. cristatus, T. helveticus, T. vulgaris) feed upon the tadpoles of the following Anura species which occur in sympatry with the newts:Rana esculenta, R. temporaria andBombina variegata. OnlyTriturus cristatus prey also upon the tadpoles ofBufo bufo andB. calamita. Triturus alpestris, T. helveticus andT. vulgaris do not eat anyBufo tadpoles. Even larvae ofTriturus alpestris prey upon tadpoles ofRana esculenta, R. ridibunda andBombina variegata but avoid tadpoles ofBufo calamita.

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Mit Unterstützung des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

Laich-Räubern und -Kannibalismus bei sympatrischen Anuren-Kaulquappen

Summary Spawn eating (predation and cannibalism) by tadpoles of sympatric Anurans. Tadpoles of 5 Anuran species were tested with spawn of 4 sympatric species or 3 sympatric and their own species respectively. All spawn offered was eaten. Spawn cannibalism as well as spawn predation amongst species which occur in ecological sympatry (e.g.Bufo calamita, Hyla arborea andBombina variegata may act as a density regulation mechanism.

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Mit Unterstützung des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

5-Methoxy- and 5-hydroxy-indolealkylamines in the skin ofBufo alvarius

Riassunto Gli estratti di pelle diBufo alvarius, rospo delle regioni desertiche del Nord America, contengono, oltre alle consuete 5-idrossiindolalchilamine (5-HT, N-metil-5-HT, bufotenina) enormi quantitativi di derivati 5-metossiindolici, rappresentati soprattutto daO-metilbufotenina. Questa può giungere a costituire fino il 16% del peso delle ghiandole cutanee secche. Si insiste sulla probabile presenza di 5-idrossiindolo-O-metiltransferasi nella pelle diBufo alvarius.

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Supported by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Hybridization in the mexican and 13-lined ground squirrels,Spermophilus mexicanus andSpermophilus tridecemlineatus

Summary Evidence of hybridization between the ground squirrels,Spermophilus tridecemlineatus andS. mexicanus is presented on the basis of chromosomal and protein data. The hybrids produced appear to be completely interfertile. Based on the evidence of hybridization and the recent reestablishment of contact between these two species, they are considered to be semispecies.Supported by Faculty Research Grant No. 34925 from North Texas State University awarded toZimmerman.     

Compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral testis after unilateral castration in the toad,Bufo melanostictus (Schn)

Zusammenfassung Nachweis kompensatorischen Wachstums des nach einseitiger Kastration verbleibenden Hodens bei indischer Krötenart (Bufo melanostictus (Schn)). Zunahme von Gewicht, Grösse und Spermienzahl.     

Il tenore di acido desossiribonucleico negli eritrociti diAnas Platyrhynchos,Cairina moschata e dei loro ibridi diretti e reciproci

Summary The desoxyribonucleic acid content in nuclei of erytrocytes inAnas platyrhynchos, Cairina moschata and their direct and reciprocal hybrids is studied by the quantitative method. A significant difference was found between the amounts in the two parental species. The hybrids reveal an irregularity in behaviour of their means and distribution of contents. This seems to be dependent on their origin and sex. These findings are discussed and critically compared with other data from the literature, concerning the desoxiribonucleic acid content and chromosome-characteristics.

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Lavoro eseguito con un contributo del C.N.R. Il materiale è stato raccolto alla Stazione Sperimentale di Pollicultura di Rovigo, diretta dal prof.A. Taibel, al quale devo i più vivi ringraziamenti, anche per le utili indicazioni ed i consigli forniti.     

Resorption von Serumproteinen in die Haemolymphe bei Larven vonHypoderma bovis (De Geer) (Diptera,Hypodermatidae)

Summary By electrophoresis it became obvious that larvae ofHypoderma bovis are able to take up complete proteins from their host's serum directly into the haemolymphe, fatbody and ovarium. This could be proved by experiments with radioactive albumin.     

Immunological comparison between albumins of three species of mice (genusMus)

Summary Three closely related species of short-tailed mice (Mus musculus musculus, M. spretoides andM. spicilegus) were tentatively discriminated using immunological techniques based on albumin cross-reactivity. Different fractionations of crude albumin antisera allowed the recovery of antibody populations specific to theM. m. musculus albumin, whereas antibody population differences do not seem to exist betweenM. spicilegus andM. spretoides. Moreover, immunoreactivities tested with native and S-carboxymethylated albumins revealed that species-specific antibodies correspond to antigenic determinants depending on the amino acid sequence (sequential determinants). The observed immunological differences are related to species divergence and albumin sequences.     

Caryotypes de quelques hybrides interspécifiques dePitymys (Mammalia,Rodentia)

Summary The Robertsonian polymorphism ofPitymys subterraneus involves only 1 pair of metacentric autosomes. The crosses of forms with 52, 53 and 54 chromosomes do not show any differences in their reproductive rate. So a single autosome trivalent does not affect the fecondity. Many hybrids have been obtained betweenP. subterraneus (2N=52 or 54) andP. multiplex (2N=48) with 50 or 51 chromosomes, respectively. Even with a heterogenous karyotype they are not entirely sterile. 2 progeny were produced from back-crosses. The 2 parental species seem to result from recent speciation. Only fecondation or embryogenesis occurs in crossingP. duodecimcostatus withP. subterraneus orP. multiplex. The chromosome complement of 1 hybrid embryo ofP. duodecimcostatus (2N=62)×P. multiplex (2N=48) has been studied showing 55 chromosomes.P. duodecimcostatus appears to belong to a more distant evolutionary group.     

Isolation of pathogenic treponemes from hare

Summary A presumably new species of pathogenic treponemes was isolated from a lesion on the male organs of hare (Lepus sp.) and the scrotum of a rabbit (Oryctolagus sp.) was infected with this treponeme. Lesion developed on the scrotum after a 110-day incubation.     

Cytogenetic studies of Hynobiidae (Urodela). XIV. Analysis of the chromosome of a Chinese salamander, Batrachuperus pinchonii (David)

The chromosome number of a Chinese salamander, Batrachuperus pinchonii, was re-examined. Adults and embryonic specimens had a diploid number of 66, with 33 bivalents during meiosis, in contrast to previous reported results. Furthermore, when C-banding analysis was performed with embryos, chromosomes with banding patterns homoeologous to those of Salamandrella keyserlingii and Hynobius species were found. It appears, therefore, that Batrachuperus, Salamandrella and Hynobius might be derived from a common ancestral species in eastern Asia. Received 22 August 1997; received after revision 14 October 1997; accepted 20 November 1997     

Plasma albumin patterns of the speciesRana ridibunda in Greece

Summary Serum electrophoretic studies on the speciesRana ridibunda displayed one new albumin band D and a total of 6 albumin patterns B, BC, C, BD, CD, BCD. The albumin patterns found are compared with those reported from Central and Northern Europe.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to Prof. M. Kattoulas, Drs C. Triantaphillidis, H. E. J. Wijnands and Th. Sofianidou for assistance and/or valuable advice.     

Phylogenetic relationship of the Brasilian leptodactylid frog generaCraspedoglossa,Cycloramphus andZachaenus

Summary Based on immunological comparisons of the serum albumins ofCraspedoglossa andZachaenus with antisera to albumin of several species ofCycloramphus, it is concluded that morphological and biochemical evolutionary rates have not been comparable within the study group. Taken together, the morphological and biochemical information demonstrate that whileZachaenus is a genetic member of theCycloramphus lineage, it has attained generic status.This study was supported by NSF grant No. DEB78-23396, the Amazon Ecosystem Research Program, Smithsonian Institution, the Fluid Research Fund, Smithsonian Institution, and the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo.The authors gratefully acknowledge the following colleagues for their help in procuring frog samples: R.I. Crombie, M.C. Duchêne, F.I. McCullough, F.C. do Val and P.E. Vanzolini.