Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2019) 30(2) 25
A unique case of albinism in Rana temporaria parvipalmata in Cantabria Ángel Ruiz-Elizalde Cl. Emperador, 49-A. Sur, 2º Q. 39770 Laredo. Cantabria. Spain. C.e.: [email protected] Fecha de aceptación: 24 de noviembre de 2019. Key words: albinism, Cantabria, Common frog, Northern Spain, pigmentary anomaly, Rana temporaria parvipalmata.
Resumen: Se describe un caso excepcional de albinismo en Rana temporaria parvipalmata para la comunidad autónoma de Cantabria. En primer lugar, se realiza una introducción al albinismo en anfibios. Los ojos del ejemplar –con el patrón de coloración típico– hacen que nos hallemos ante un caso único y nunca antes descrito para la especie a nivel global. Se compara con los casos de otros anuros con características similares descritos en Australia y Japón.
In this paper, a rare –and probably uni- fingers of the hands. It was observed that its que– case of albinism in an adult specimen skin had a striking and uniform orange hue. of Rana temporaria parvipalmata is reported. Its eyes had the usual pattern and coloration It was discovered in the very center of the for the species (Álvarez, 2013). However, in its autonomous community of Cantabria. On left eye, the pupil presented some type of December 12th 2014, an albino specimen of malformation (Figure 2b), since it appeared R. temporaria parvipalmata was found in the abnormally dilated in its upper part. After vicinity of Quintana de Toranzo, a small vi- examination, several pictures of the speci- llage within the municipality of Corvera de men were taken (Figure 2) in order to put Toranzo, at an altitude of 510 masl and in on photographic record the atypical orange a typical Atlantic countryside environment coloration it presented. Finally, the anuran (43º14’6.59”N / 03º58’43.60”W). The was duly released into the same water body frog was found underwater, lying still and where it was found. semi-hidden at the bottom of an old water Pigmentary anomalies are the disorders trough (Figure 1). The water body also con- produced in the typical coloration of spe- tained some spawns of R. temporaria parvi- cies. They are the consequence of various palmata and numerous wintering larvae of genetic mutations, which can affect the di- Alytes obstetricans obstetricans. The discovery fferent pigments of the external tegument. occurred in the heart of the breeding season These pigments, under the incidence of whi- for R. temporaria parvipalmata at low and te light, reflect a particular color in external medium altitudes in the Atlantic slope of the tissues and they are contained in a certain Cantabrian Range (Álvarez, 2013; Á. Ruiz-Eli- type of skin cells called chromatophores zalde, personal observation). The specimen (Guiberteau et al., 2012), which are responsi- was captured, thoroughly examined, sexed ble for skin and eyes coloration on amphi- and aged as an adult male in heat, given the bians and other ectothermic animals, such remarkable robustness of its forelimbs and as reptiles, fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, the presence of nuptial calluses on the inner etc. Up to six different types of chromato- 26 Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2019) 30(2)
Photo Ángel Ruiz
Figure 1: Atlantic countryside environment and old water trough where the adult albino specimen of Rana tempo- raria was found. Figura 1: Entorno (o ambiente) de campiña atlántica y viejo abrevadero en el que fue localizado el individuo albino de Rana temporaria. phores can be found in amphibians (Lunghi binism. Albinos are characterized by having et al., 2017), depending on the colors reflected reddish pupils and the pale coloration of by the pigments they contain: melanophores their skin, which often looks pinkish becau- (black and brown), xanthophores (yellow), se it reveals, through it, the color of blood as cyanophores (blue), erythrophores (red), iri- it passes through blood vessels (Rivera et al., dophores (iridescent glitters), and leucopho- 2001). Occasionally, albino specimens may res (white). present other shades, such as yellowish or Albinism, while still rare, is one of the orange, due to xanthophores and erythro- most commonly recorded pigmentary ano- phores or iridescent golden glitters due to malies in nature. It is characterized by the iridophores (Guiberteau et al., 2012). total absence (hypopigmentation) of mela- So far, various cases of albinism have been nin: a pigment contained in the melanopho- described –both in the Iberian Peninsula and res and responsible for reflecting the dark in the rest of Europe– for several of the am- tones (brown and black) on skin and eyes. phibian species present in Cantabria, such as A priori, every living being whose external Chioglossa lusitanica (Brame & Freytag, 1963), tissues contain melanin is susceptible to al- Salamandra salamandra (Arribas & Rivera, 1992; Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2019) 30(2) 27
Photos Ángel Ruiz
Figure 2: Adult albino male of Rana temporaria with a striking uniform orange coloration on its skin and eyes with the usual coloration for the species. The pupil of the left eye appears abnormally dilated in its upper part (right). Figura 2: Macho albino adulto de Rana temporaria con una llamativa coloración anaranjada de la piel y ojos con colo- ración normal para la especie. La pupila del ojo izquierdo parece anormalmente dilatada en la parte superior (derecha).
Benavides et al., 2000), Triturus marmoratus tion or supplementary pigmentation of the (Budó, 1998), Ichthyosaura alpestris (Blu & Gues- erythrophores (red), but retaining the usual don, 1993), Lissotriton helveticus (Freytag, 1956), pattern of coloration of the species (Rivera et Alytes obstetricans (Rivera et al., 1991), Bufo spi- al., 2001). The hypothesis of erythrism was nosus (Rostand, 1955), Epidalea calamita (Bee- immediately discarded since the specimen be, 1983; Díaz-Paniagua et al., 2005), Hyla molleri did not show any of the typical pattern (Gosá & Arribas, 2017), Rana iberica (Alarcos et al., of coloration of R. temporaria on its skin 2006), Pelophylax perezi (Aguilar et al., 2011; Jimé- (dark facial mask, dark transverse bars on nez-Cazalla, 2011), etc. In R. temporaria, cases the hind limbs, dark inverted “V” spots of albinism in spawns, larvae, juveniles and on the back, etc.). It was concluded that adults are known (Mendel, 1990; Rivera et al., the frog presented a total absence of mela- 2001; Defranoux, 2012; Paterson, 2018). nin (contained in the melanophores), but It is not usual for a specimen such as it did have other pigments that conferred the one in question to reach adulthood that conspicuous orange coloration (con- and reproductive status in the wild, sin- tained in xanthophores or erythrophores). ce such a pigmentary anomaly implies, a All this fitted perfectly with albinism and priori, a greater vulnerability to its poten- discarded leucism, the latter being cha- tial predators due to the lack of adequate racterized by the total absence of all skin crypsis, apart from other serious problems pigments and by having dark or blue eyes such as visual impairment or lack of vigor (Rivera et al., 2001). Nevertheless, the eyes of (Arribas, 1986). Initially, due to its striking this specimen, apparently with the typical orange coloration, it was hypothesised that coloration for the species, make us face a the specimen could suffer from another case of rare, atypical, and probably unique pigmentary anomaly known as erythrism, albinism among those registered so far in which is characterized by a hyperpigmenta- R. temporaria. Although the presence of 28 Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2019) 30(2) golden glitters (iridophores) in the irises mal eyes. Likewise, in Miura (2018), cases of the anuran fits perfectly with albinism, of albino specimens of Pelophylax nigro- its dark pupils do not, since these should maculatus (Black-spotted Pond Frog) with be reddish or orange in a typical case of normal-colored eyes are disclosed. In the albinism (see typical adult albinos of R. tempora- latter, the author proposes that the melanin ria in Mendel, 1990 and Natural England, 2007). of eggs, skin, and eyes could be synthesized In principle, cases of albinism such as this through three different pathways in some one for R. temporaria are not known in the species of Japanese anurans. If this theory rest of its worldwide range or, at least, have was globally confirmed, our atypical case not been found in the existing scientific of albinism in R. temporaria parvipalmata literature. Nevertheless, similar cases of and, at the same time, those of the oriental albinism have been documented in other frogs mentioned above could be explained. species of Anura, some of them out of our biogeographic realm. For instance, in Ke- Acknowledgements: The author of this paper ack- ely & Maldonado (2013), an adult albino nowledges the renowned herpetologists A. Montori, Á. male of Litoria raniformis (Growling Grass Richter-Boix, D. Fernández Guiberteau, Í. Martínez-So- Frog) found in Melbourne (Australia) is lano, Ó. Arribas and X. Rivera for taking the trouble described, although it is erroneously listed to analyse the photographs of the frog in order to try as leucistic. It possessed certain characte- to discern the type of pigmentary anomaly it presented. ristics very similar to that of our albino Especially, the author acknowledges X. Rivera for taking specimen of R. temporaria parvipalmata, the trouble to investigate the case, providing photogra- with uniform orange coloration and nor- phs and related bibliography on similar cases.
References Aguilar, F., García, J. & Vico, R. 2011. Albinisme en exemplars Asociación Herpetológica Española, 11: 83. de granota verda ibèrica (Pelophylax perezi) a Tarragona. Blu, Y. & Guesdon, P. 1993. L’albinisme chez les urodèles sala- Butlletí de la Societat Catalana d’Herpetologia, 19: 145-148. mandridés de France. Rapport de T.E.R. Licence de Biolo- Alarcos, G., Ortiz, M.E., Fernández-Benéitez, M.J., Madrigal, gie. Université d´Angers. J. & Lizana, M. 2006. Un caso de albinismo de Rana ibe- Brame, A.H. & Freytag, G.E. 1963. Ein halbalbino von Chio- rica en Sanabria (Zamora). Boletín de la Asociación Herpe- glossa lusitanica. Der Zoologische Garten, 27: 130-131. tológica Española, 17 (1): 44-45. Budó, J. 1998. Un ejemplar albino parcial de Triturus marmo- Álvarez, D. 2013. Rana bermeja – Rana temporaria. In: Salva- ratus en el Pirineo oriental (Serra de L´Albera). Boletín de dor, A., Martínez-Solano, I. (eds.), Enciclopedia Virtual de la Asociación Herpetológica Española, 9: 38-39. los Vertebrados Españoles. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Na- Defranoux, P. 2012. Suivi d’une ponte anormalement blanche de la turales, Madrid.
de patrones y pigmentación en Salamandra salamandra second international conference “Amphibian and reptiles gallaica Seoane, 1884. Butlletí de la Societat Catalana anomalies and pathology: methodology, evolutionary sig- d’Herpetologia, 20: 115-120. nificance, monitoring and environmental health”. KnE Jiménez-Cazalla, F. 2011. Albinismo en un adulto de Pelophylax Life Sciences: 97-107. perezi en el sur de Cádiz (SO de la Península Ibérica). Bole- Natural England. 2007. Amphibians in your garden: your tín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española, 22: 62-65. questions answered.
A report of complete albinism in an adult Pleurodeles waltl in the wild Carlos Caballero-Díaz1, Miguel Ángel Pérez1, Ana Díaz1, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes1 & Íñigo Martínez-Solano1*
1 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC). Cl. José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2. 28006 Madrid. Spain. * C.e.: [email protected] Fecha de aceptación: 26 de noviembre de 2019. Key words: albinism, Madrid, Pleurodeles waltl.
Resumen: El albinismo es una de las anomalías pigmentarias más documentadas en los anfibios, aunque en poblaciones naturales se da con poca frecuencia, posiblemente porque los animales con fenotipos albinos presentarían tasas de supervivencia menores que aquellos con fenotipo normal. En esta nota describimos una observación de una hembra adulta albina de gallipato (Pleurodeles waltl) en una charca temporal en la Comunidad de Madrid y aportamos documen- tación gráfica de este caso de albinismo completo.
The abundance and disposition of chro- (red), cyanophores (blue), leucophores (whi- matophores in the amphibian epidermis ge- te), and iridophores (iridescent reflections) nerate a broad range of coloration patterns (Duellman & Trueb, 1994; Rivera et al., 2001). Di- that can vary at the individual, population, fferent anomalies in amphibian pigmentation and species level. Depending on the pigments have been described, of which albinism is one involved and the composition of granules, of the most studied, characterized by a lack chromatophores typically found in the am- of melanin in the skin caused by alterations phibian skin are classified as melanophores in the melanophore synthesis pathway. This (black), xantophores (yellow), erythrophores anomaly can affect the whole body or, more