ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE LATERAL LINE NEUROMASTS IN TADPOLES OF SAUDI BUFO DHUFARENSIS AND RANA RIDIBUNDA

Document Type : Original Article

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Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Neuromast (hair cells) structure in Bufo dhufarensis and Rana ridibunda larvae was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Neuromasts were found arranged in one well-defined line in the head, body, and tail regions forming the lateral line and also found haphazardly scattered in most of the body parts. Their number was significantly high in the head region, and then it gradually decreased along the posterior end of the body. The structure of neuromasts in these three regions was basically similar for each species. In Rana, neuromasts were found few in number, either spherical or oval in shape lacking hair-like structure except in the tail region where hair cells were found. While in Bufo, neuromasts were numerous. Long kinocilia and many stereocilia were found in the neuromasts. Kinocilia were either solitary or in clusters. In addition to the main functions of the neuromasts we discovered a new function which was not found in previous researches, neuromasts were also used to remove any attached object on the tadpole's skin, by directing the
kinocilium to the object thing and rolling onto it then detaching it outwards.

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