Skeletal malformations in hatchery reared Rana perezi tadpoles

Skeletal malformations at metamorphosis in Rana perezi tadpoles reared in culture have been studied. Tadpoles were fed ten artificially compounded and fresh diets and kept at two different temperatures. Animals were maintained in fiberglass tanks. Bone damages are related to the nourishment with compound diets. Tadpoles fed such diets showed variable percentages of scoliosis, kyphosis, luxations, and subluxations in the hind limbs, aplasia in phalanges, and wide failures of ossification. The data suggest the origin of the lesions is a deficiency in some compounded diets that could alter collagen metabolism during skeletal adjustments at metamorphosis.