Bonn zoological Bulletin 69 (2): 191–223 ISSN 2190–7307 2020 · Klein B. et al. http://www.zoologicalbulletin.de https://doi.org/10.20363/BZB-2020.69.2.191 Research article urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:607B5771-A379-42B6-A9A7-B5D5A2AB27FB Larval development and morphology of six Neotropical poison-dart frogs of the genus Ranitomeya (Anura: Dendrobatidae) based on captive-raised specimens Benjamin Klein1, Ruth Anastasia Regnet2, Markus Krings3 & Dennis Rödder4, * 1, 2, 3, 4Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity, Adenauerallee 160,D-53113 Bonn, Germany 2, 4 Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, 45662-900 Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil * Corresponding author: Email:
[email protected] 1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:5F4659E8-4E44-4F22-A1D4-7BBEF1D3E5F1 2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:1B245FFB-03C5-4386-A06E-C149C8A40AC6 3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:D78A5661-FC81-42BA-B9E4-948E21E2D6BC 4 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:C7D0E2AF-2147-43FA-A89A-D770AAEA150E Abstract. Larval development is a crucial step during the ontogeny of amphibians, concomitantly it is the most sensitive life phase in this group. Due to the complex morphological, physiological and anatomical changes, in addition to their susceptibility to the environment changes, this phase is known as one of the most critical period of development as well as an obstacle in ex-situ breeding programs. Tadpole growth rates can be used to predict the effects of biotic interactions, as well as to predict the survival rate on environmental changes. The assessment of the mortality rate during this phase can be performed using a non-invasive image-based tool, programmed on the open source statistical platform R, SAISAQ (semi-automatic quantification of image-based surface area).