摘要
The objectives of this study are to present a detailed and comprehensive description of the osteology of Quasipaa robertingeri （Anura： Dicroglossidae）, to provide osteological evidence for taxonomy, and to explore the adaptive traits of Q. robertingeri. We comprehensively studied the osteology of 2 adult specimens （1 male 98A00351 and 1 female 98A0041） of Q. robertingeri using conventional methods. Our osteological examination of Q. robertingeri shows that 1） the nasals are large and connect with one another medially; 2） the sphenethmoid is completely covered by the nasals and the frontopatietals, and thus it is not exposed dorsally; 3） the vomerine teeth are well-developed; 4） the anterior parts of the diapophyses＇ of the presacral II protrude forward in the male, the same observation was made in the presacrals II and III in the female; 5） the pectoral girdle is firmisternal; 6） the omosternum is fan-shaped posteriorly, and almost equal to the length of the mesosternum; 7） the xiphistemum is W-shaped with a deep incision posteriorly; 8） the humerus of the male is more developed in the crista ventralis, the crista medialis, and the crista lateralis; 9） the metacarpal II of the male presents with a nuptial tuber; and 10） the distal phalanges of the digits are anchorshaped. Ultimately, the unique characteristics listed are most likely adaptations to the environment and amplexus of Q. robertingeri.
The objectives of this study are to present a detailed and comprehensive description of the osteology of Quasipaa robertingeri （Anura： Dicroglossidae）, to provide osteological evidence for taxonomy, and to explore the adaptive traits of Q. robertingeri. We comprehensively studied the osteology of 2 adult specimens （1 male 98A00351 and 1 female 98A0041） of Q. robertingeri using conventional methods. Our osteological examination of Q. robertingeri shows that 1） the nasals are large and connect with one another medially; 2） the sphenethmoid is completely covered by the nasals and the frontopatietals, and thus it is not exposed dorsally; 3） the vomerine teeth are well-developed; 4） the anterior parts of the diapophyses＇ of the presacral II protrude forward in the male, the same observation was made in the presacrals II and III in the female; 5） the pectoral girdle is firmisternal; 6） the omosternum is fan-shaped posteriorly, and almost equal to the length of the mesosternum; 7） the xiphistemum is W-shaped with a deep incision posteriorly; 8） the humerus of the male is more developed in the crista ventralis, the crista medialis, and the crista lateralis; 9） the metacarpal II of the male presents with a nuptial tuber; and 10） the distal phalanges of the digits are anchorshaped. Ultimately, the unique characteristics listed are most likely adaptations to the environment and amplexus of Q. robertingeri.
基金
provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) to Xiaohong CHEN (Grant Nos.30870277,31372164,31572245)
the key discipline of ecology of Henan Province, and the innovation team of science and technology of Henan Province (C20140032)
