Karyotype and chromosome banding in the reed frogHyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus (Amphibia,Anura, Hyperoliidae)

Summary C-banding and mithramycin staining were used to characterize the karyotypes of 10 specimens of the African reed frogHyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus from Tanzania. The diploid chromosome number is 2n=24. Although no heteromorphic sex chromosomes were present in the mitotic karyotypes, in many diakineses of male meiosis one or two bivalents exhibited an end-to-end arrangement. In the laboratory 7 out of 24 females changed sex spontaneously. This indicates that an XY/XX system of sex determination operates inH. viridiflavus ommatostictus.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schm 484/2-4). We thank K. E. Linsenmair and C. M. Richards for helpful comments on an earlier draft.     

Cytotaxonomy of the Seychelles tree frog,Megalixalus seychellensis (Duméril and Bibron) (Amphibia: Hyperoliidae)

Summary The Seychelles tree frog,Megalixalus seychellensis has 2n=24 chromosomes of gradually decreasing length. Pairs 2, 3, and 4 are submetacentric, and the remaining pairs are metacentric. The karyotype affirms hyperoliid assignment of this species, and indicates a link between the Seychellean fauna and the African-Madagascan faunas.Research supported by the National Geographic Society.     

Karyotype and chromosome banding in the Turkish desert woodlouseDesertellio elongatus (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The karyotype ofD. elongatus was investigated by means of C-banding, silver staining, and mithramycin-and quinacrine fluorescent staining. The diploid chromosome number is 2n=50. C-banding shows pericentromerically localized constitutive heterochromatin in every chromosome. Two of the chromosome pairs carry two telomeric nucleolus organizer regions each. No heteromorphic sex chromosomes were found.     

Seasonal variations in the fertilizing capacity ofBufo arenarum (Amphibia Anura) spermatozoa

Resumen La capacidad fecundante de los espermatozoides deBufo arenarum decae más rápidamente en verano que en invierno. Ello probablemente sea debido a la presencia, durante el invierno, de factores testiculares de protección.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina and by the Population Council grant No. 71.68 awarded to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas to be administered by the Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán.

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The author is most grateful to Dr.F. D. Barbieri for his kind discussion and helpful advice in the course of the present study.     

New chromosome numbers in Australian Leptodactylidae (Amphibia,Salientia)

Summary Fra i Leptodactylidi Australiani,Cyclorana alboguttatus ha 2n=26 come le forme più generalizzate della famiglia, mentre alcune specie diLimnodynastes hanno 2n=22; specie di altri 5 generi hanno 2n=24. Fra questi ultimi, il problematicoRheobatrachus, completamente acquatico, possiede alcuni microcromosomi come i membri più primitivi dell'ordine.     

A new chromosome number forBombina (Anura,Discoglossidae)

Summary The karyotype of a primitive discoglossid anuran,Bombina maxima, native to southwestern China, has 2n=28 chromosomes with 6 large and 8 small bi-armed homologous pairs. This is a higher chromosome number than described for otherBombina species, all of which have 2n=24.     

Somatic chromosomes of Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum (Gunther) (Anura; Amphibia)

Summary Somatic chromosome complements of the Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum, have been described for the first time. The 2n number is 26 (NF=52) in both the sexes. No heteromorphism in relation to sex chromosome pair has been recorded. Deviations from 2n number (2n=10–28) have been noticed in the cells of different specimens. The result has been compared withU. systoma.Acknowledgment. Sincere thanks are due to Prof. P. K. Ghosh, Hooghly Mohsin College and to Dr A. K. Roy of the same college for encouragement. Thanks are due to Mr Bipul Kumar Das for his help during collection of specimen.     

The chromosome banding patterns of the aardvarkOrycteropus afer (Tubulidentata,Orycteropidae)

Summary C- and G-banding patterns ofOrycteropus afer are described on the basis of fibroblast cultures obtained from a female individual.This work was supported in part by a research grant DEB 76-10580 from the National Science Foundation.     

Infection of frog tadpoles (Amphibia) by insect parasitic nematodes (Rhabditida)

Summary Infective stage juveniles ofNeoaplectana carpocapsae (Steinernematidae) andHeterohabditis heliothidis (Heterorhabditidae) were able to penetrate through the alimentary tract of young tadpoles ofHyla regilla (Hylidae) andXenopus laevis (Pipidae) and enter the body cavity. Some infectives ofN. carpocapsae were able to release their symbiotic bacterium,Xenorhabdus nematophilus inside the host and in two cases, the nematodes developed into adult females before they perished. Tadpole mortality was associated with foreign bacteria entering the penetration holes made by the invading nematodes. The infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's coelom.     

Variation in the specific activity of intestinal DNA in Alytes obstetricians larvae (Amphibia, Anura) treated with thyroxine]

Treatment by thyroxine modified the specific activity of intestianl DNA in premetamorphic Alytes tadpoles. The activity decreased up to the 3rd day, and showed afterwards a peak which culminates on the 9th day. These results have been discussed in comparison with previous radioautographic observations.     

The fate of intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusion bodies in germ line cells of water frogs (Amphibia, Anura)

Numerous intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusion bodies (ICIB) were observed in the germinal plasm of a mid-blastula, and in primordial germ cells (PGCs) after their migration to the germinal ridges, in Rana ridibunda, R. lessonae and R. esculenta. In oogonia the number of ICIB decreases rapidly. Single ICIB are observed in the germ cells up to the leptotene stage; they have never been observed in pachytene oocytes. In diplotene oocytes that have reached a diameter of about 100 microns ICIB are visible again, and their number increases concomitantly with oocyte growth.     

The fate of intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusion bodies in germ line cells of water frogs (Amphibia,Anura)

Summary Numerous intramitochondrial pararystalline inclusion bodies (ICIB) were observed in the germinal plasm of a mid-blastula, and in primordial germ cells (PGCs) after their migration to the germinal ridges, inRana ridibunda, R. lessonae andR. esculenta. In oogonia the number of ICIB decreases rapidly. Single ICIB are observed in the germ cells up to the leptotene stage; they have never been observed in pachytene oocytes. In diplotene oocytes that have reached a diameter of about 100 m ICIB are visible again, and their number increases concomitantly with oocyte growth.     

Systematic problems in the frog speciesEupsophus roseus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) detected by karyological analysis

Summary 3 different karyotypes are described in the Chilean frog,Eupsophus roseus, which could be an unnatural assemblage of species. The3 karyological forms are considered as full species.Supported by Proyecto S-77-47, Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Austral de Chile.The technical assistence of Sonia Lacrampe is acknowledged with appreciation.     

Consequence of heterospecific cytoplasmic graft on gastrulation of Bufo bufo L. (Amphibia, Anura)]

Bufo bufo nuclei were grafted in virgin and enucleated Bufo calamita eggs. In these conditions embryonnic development was stopped at the early gastrula stage in 92% of the recipient eggs. For accomparative analysis Bufo calamita cytoplasm was injected into fertilized Bufo bufo eggs and produce arrest of development at the early gastrula stage. The progressive enhancement of this development inhibition was related to the increasing of the injected cytoplasm volume.     

Effect of bromocriptine on the "prolactin-like cell" of Nectophrynoides occidentalis (Amphibia, viviparous Anura): optical and electronic microscopical studies]

Bromocriptin has an effect on prolactin-like cells of Nectophryno?des occidentalis. 16 days after delivery, these cells are fully active in normal animals. Retention of secretory granules and myelinic formations have been observed in the prolactin-like cells of females treated by CB 154.     

Die Bedeutung des Serumeiweissbildes zur Diagnose vonBufo calamita Laur.,Bufo viridis Laur. und deren Bastarden (Amphibia,Anura, Bufonidae)

Summary Electrophoretic investigations of the serum protein patterns of natterjacks (Bufo calamita Laur.) from the Iberian Peninsula and from Western and Central Europe, and of green toads (Bufo viridis Laur.) from Central Europa, Asia Minor and North Africa show that the two species differ disctinctly in the position of their albumin fractions. The identification of problematic specimens can result from the production of mixed serum with specimens of both species. As the albumin fraction of hybrids is doubled according to this method, it is also suitable for demonstrating the existence of such hybrids in natural populations.