title: Eye ontogeny in Pleurodema bufoninum: A comparison with Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura, Leptodactylidae).
abstract: Vision is one of the main sensory systems in amphibians, and the eye structure is highly associated with habitat conditions. The ontogeny, as well as the adult structure, of the eye has been studied in only a few species. The life change after metamorphosis is accompanied by changes in the visual environment. The aim of this work is to describe the eye ontogeny of Pleurodema bufoninum and to compare it with that of Pleurodema somuncurense. Specimens of both Pleurodema species were processed for histology analysis at different stages of development, including the tadpole, postmetamorphic, and adult forms. Eyes in both Pleurodema species are composed of the 3 tunics, tunica fibrosa, tunica vasculosa, and tunica interna, and the lens. Additionally, in both, the iris presents a projection on its dorsal and ventral free ends that screens the cornea. This structure has been reported in the eye of several anuran species and is called the umbraculum, meniscus or pupillary nodule. Our results show that the structures related to light capture (retina and lens) appear early in larval life, while the components of the terrestrial-life eye (scleral cartilage, specialized cornea, eyelids, nictitating membrane, and Harderian's gland) do not develop until the metamorphic climax, when the tadpole leaves the water. The adult eyes of P. bufoninum and P. somuncurense are very similar in structure and development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología de Anfibios, Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.|Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Laboratorio Biología de Anfibios-Histología Animal, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Volonteri
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología de Anfibios, Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
authors.forename: Diego A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barrasso
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología de Anfibios, Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cotichelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología de Anfibios, Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
authors.forename: Néstor G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Laboratorio Biología de Anfibios-Histología Animal, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gladys N
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0794-9772
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hermida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000254:growth & development*; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D007498:Iris / Q000166:cytology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology
keywords: development; meniscus; umbraculum; visual system