Studies On The Osteology Of Genus Nanorana (Anura: Ranidae)

The present genus Nanorana (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae) includes Nanorana pleskei, N. parkeri and N. ventripunctata, which are endemic to the Qinghai-Xizang plateau, where altitudes are mostly above 3000 meters.The adult skeletons of genus Nanorana are described on the basis of cleared and double-stained specimens. It is found that the columella auris, tympanic annulus and membrana tympani exist in N. pleskei and N. ventripunctata, but are absent in N. parkeri, and that the medial ends of the clavicles contact the epicoracoids in N. ventripunctata and N, parkeri, but don't contact in N. pleskei.It is interesting to find that the epicoracoids of these three species are slightly overlapping. Furthermore, the ventromedial parts of the pectoral girdles of them were sectioned, and stained with Masson staining. The pectoral girdles of genus Nanorana are unique among anurans and should not belong to "firmisterny". This study next examined the pectoral girdles of the following ranid species: Paa yunnanensis, P. boulengeri and Rana chensinensis. The pectoral girdles of P. yunnanensis, P. boulengeri, N. pleskei, N. parkeri, and N. ventripunctata bear some resemblance to that of Hoplobatrachus rugulosus and differ from any other known states, so a novel state of pectoral girdle architecture is defined and proposed to be...