Comparative histomorphology and histochemistry of the skin in different morphs of the Greek smooth newt Lissotriton graecus (Urodela: Salamandridae)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260219006UKeywords:
skin, dermal glands, electron microscopy, paedomorphosis, Greek smooth newt Lissotriton graecus, light microscopyAbstract
Paper description:
- The skin is one of the organs that changes the most during amphibian development.
- The Greek smooth newt Lissotriton graecus is facultative paedomorphic and a common species in most parts of its range.
- We provide the first detailed histological and histochemical description of graecus skin in all morphs existing during ontogeny; skin development and sexual maturity are partially uncoupled in the paedomorphs.
- The work underlines the importance of histological investigation of the possible uncoupling of sexual and somatic development in different organ systems to obtain an improved understanding of paedomorphosis.
Abstract: In the biphasic life cycle of the smooth newts, the aquatic larvae transform into terrestrial adults, the metamorphs. The Greek smooth newt Lissotriton graecus is characterized by facultative paedomorphosis in which 2 adult morphs can coexist. Paedomorphs are reproducing adults that live in an aquatic habitat and retain some larval characteristics. In this study, histological and histochemical characteristics of the skin of the L. graecus in all morphs were investigated: larvae, paedomorphs, and metamorphs. The most remarkable finding is that skin development in paedomorphic L. graecus, whose skin is a mosaic of larval and metamorphic features, is partially uncoupled from sexual maturity. Leydig cells in the epidermis and numerous clear/vacuolated cells in the skin glands are common features with larval, while the relative thickness and keratinized surface of the epidermis are common features with adult skin. Our results provide new insights into this neglected field, given the gap in the existing literature on skin development in paedomorphic urodeles. The results of this study emphasized the importance of histological investigation of the possible uncoupling of sexual and somatic development in different organ systems to achieve a deeper understanding of the complex process of paedomorphosis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mirela Ukropina, Petar Govedarica, Stefan Marković, Radmila Glišić, Maja Čakić-Milošević
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