Main Article Content
Abstract
Amphibians
morphofunctional diversity in their skins Although the integument is the structural and functional interface between the organism and its environment, the morphological and complexity of amphibian skin is not fully understand. There is practically no information on the integument of
live
in
varied
habitats.
This
fact
probably
explains
the
great
the tree frog Polypedates leucomystax found in cherrapunjee. Therefore, ultra structure of the skin of the adult frog of Polypedates leucomystax was studied during the breeding phase with the
help of transmission electron microscopy. Adult males and females of Polypedated leucomystax were collected from the study sites at Cherrapunjee. The epidermis consisted of four layers
namely, stratum cvornum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum germinativum. Desmosomes, ribosomes, tonofilaments. Golgi bodies, vacuoles and collagen fibres were
observed in the epidermal cells. The basement membrane composed of collagenous fibres separated the epidermis from the dermis. Pigment cells like pterinosomes, melanophores and
iridiphores were abserved and these pigment cells may work together to determine the varied skin colouration and patterns displayed in polypedutes leucomystax and my have important roles
in adapting this frog to its environment.