Morphologic and morphometric study of Eastern Tree frog (Hyla orientalis) in Mazandaran province

Document Type : Biology(Animal)

Authors

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, PO Box 155

Abstract

Order Anura are about 6200 species that have worldwide distribution except antarctic and most continental islands and consists of 49 families. Tree frog of family Hylidae is consists of 3 subfamilies and 901 species. Subfamily Hylinae includes 40 genera and 675 species, and 35 species of the genus Hyla Laurenti. There are two species of tree frogs in Iran. This research is result of study on Eastern tree frog (Hyla orientalis); its local name is Darwag in Mazandaran province. We studied morphologic and morphometric characters of 70 tree frogs of Mazandaran. We collected these frogs with hand. It was measured 15 morphometric characters with digital caliper with accuracy 0.01. It was distinguished males and females with dissection of frogs and observation of testis and ovary. Results revealed this species have green dorsal coloration and white bellow and brown stripe on sides of body. Forelimbs with four fingers and hind limbs with five toes, end of fingers and toes are disk like that are sticky. Hind limbs are longer than forelimbs. Male size is almost equal to female. In this research sex ratio was 1:1. L: 17.15-41.30(mean 33.85), L to LC: 2.28-3.62(mean 3.23), Lt.p to sp.p: 0.50-1.01(mean 0.73), L.o to L.tym:1.44-2.56(mean 1.81), F to T: 0.73-1.03(mean 0.89), D.p to C.int:1.56-3.04(mean 2.25). The body length (L), at a distance of 32/5-37/5 mm in males and of females at a distance of 32/5-37/5 and 27/5-30 mm. The T-test analysis between sexes  was did not show significant difference in the characters.

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