Embryo and larval development of Iranian Near Eastern Brown Frogs, Rana macrocnemis pseudodalmatina Eiselt & Schmidtler, 1971 (Amphibia: Ranidae), in Alang Dareh Forest, northeastern Iran

In 2001 we studied the morphological development of the Near Eastern Brown Frog, Rana macrocnemis pseudodalmatina. 327 egg clutches were found at low water depths on the edges of Alang Dareh pond on 14 January 2001. The surface water of the pond was frozen on some days, and we also observed several egg clutches and males of R. m. pseudodalmatina which were frozen. The first larvae hatched on 23 January 2001. Cannibalism was observed among these tadpoles. Metamorphosis takes place from early April to late June. The external morphology, variations in ontogeny, and scanning electron microscopy of the oral disc were studied in tadpoles of Rana macrocnemis pseudodalmatina. Tadpoles in all stages possess a labial tooth row formula (LTRF) of 3(2)/4(1). Small denticles were present on the distal portion of each tooth in the oral disc. There were also some abnormal denticles on some teeth. In addition, 8 embryo stages, 10 larval stages and the oral disc were drawn. Morphological larval data were provided to help diagnose this closely related complex of Brown Frogs (R. macrocnemis).