Reproductive behaviour, cutaneous morphology, and skin secretion analysis in the anuran Dermatonotus muelleri (Meuller’s Termite Frog)

Antoniazzi et al.

Summary

Despite the common poison and mucous glands, some amphibian groups have differentiated glands associated with reproduction and usually present on the male ventral surface. Known as breeding glands or sexually dimorphic skin glands (SDSGs), they are related to intraspecific chemical communication during mating. 

Until recently, reproduction associated with skin glands was recognized only in salamanders and caecilians and remained unexplored among anurans. 

The Brazilian microhylid Dermatonotus muelleri (Muller's termite frog) is known for its very toxic skin secretion. Despite the slippery body, the male adheres to the female back during reproduction, as they have differentiated ventral glands. In this paper, we have gathered data proposing an integrative approach correlated with the species' biology and biochemical properties of their skin secretions. 

Furthermore, we suggest that the adhesion phenomenon is related to arm shortening and rounded body that make amplexus inefficient, although constituting important adaptive factors to life underground.

Read the paper: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)00343-1

Banded Rubber Frog (Phrynomantis bifasciatus),  Manyane Resort Walking Trail, Pilanesberg, South Africa

 Malabar Black Narrowmouth Frog aka “Galaxy Frog” (Melanobatrachus indicus), endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. - ENDANGERED.

Marbled Rain Frog, Scapiophryne marmorata, Andasibe, Madagascar

The Rubber frog (Phrynomantis bifasciatus) is a highly toxic amphibian whose skin contains cardiotoxic compounds that, while not deadly to humans, can cause strong pain and respiratory distress. These toxins provide excellent protection against predators and thus this frog has few natural enemies.

An additional protection comes from the Rubber frog’s ability to share shelters with scorpions, such as the common in Gorongosa tree scorpion Opistacanthus asper. Apparently, these two species have the ability to recognize that together they make an almost invincible pair and don't bother each other.