Thesis (DSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 1959 / Published in the Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Vol. 35, Sect. A, No.4 (1959) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ontogeny of the cloacal region of Ascaphus is described from limited larval material (beginning approximately at the stage of hind-limb bud development). A comprehensive series of Bufo angusticeps larvae and late pre-larval embryos were used for comparison. The adult and/ or late larval conditions of the cloacal region in Ascaphus, Bufo, Bombina, Leiopelma, Rana and Xenopus arc compared. The rods of Noble supporting the cloaca in Ascaphus and the tendinous sheet connecting these with the epipubis are shown to be modifications of an interfemoral ligament present, with thickened lateral margins, in all the Anura studied. The cloacal lips differentiate early in metamorphosis in Ascaphus and Bufo and bear similar relations to the interfemoral ligament in these and other Anura, so that they are apparently homologous. The posterior part of the urodaeum is lengthened in the adult male Ascaphus to form the "tail" (phallus). The hind-limb anlagen of Ascaphus appear directly beneath the spinal myomeres and immediately behind the posterior tips of the abdominal muscle cords. In Ascaphus, Bufo and Bombina the abdominal muscles (metamerically disposed in Ascaphus and Bufo) are initially attached posteriorly to the spinal myomeres but are separated from them anteriorly. lt is probable that the mm. compressores cloacae are derived from the hind-limb anlagen. In all Anura examined, including members of all the South African families, the a. ischiadica and n. ischiadicus have a small muscle (designated m. circumflexor arteriae) associated with them; it is presumably capable of compressing the artery against the nerve. The cloacal region of Ascaphus appears to be less specialized than that of Rana and Xenopus, contrary to what is generally believed for the last two genera. Bufo, particularly and Bombina have undergone less specialization. / No Afrikaans abstract available.

Thesis (MSc)-- University of Stellenbosch, 1954 / Published in the Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Volume 31, Section A, No.1 (1955) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pelvic girdles of the two anuran genera Ascaphus and Leiopelma of the family Ascaphidae are very similar. Attached to them by cartilage (or connective tissue in some Ascaphus specimens) is a cartilaginous, in Leiopelmu somewhat ossified, epibubis. In Ascaphu8, as in Xenopus, the epipubis originates from two Anlages, and its muscles are also paired in the Ascaphidae, while in Xenopus only one is present, although this also appears to originate (rom two muscles. The cloaca extends behind the pelvic girdle in both sexes in Al:lcaphus, and it is supported by two rods consisting of strong connective tissue (Faserknochen?). These rods are attached to the ventral surface of the pelvic girdle, in the female closely, in the male by means of tendons. Between the rods and the epipubis a broad tendinous band extends, which is thick in the male; in the latter the mm. compressores cloacae have their origins posteriorly on the rods, while in the female the rods are completely imbedded in these muscles posteriorly. In the female particularly there are transverse muscle fibres which are not striped although probably derived from the mm. compressorcs cloacae. Behind the pelvic girdle there is cavernous tissue in both layers of the tunica muscularis, and ventrally it covers the mm. eompressores cloacae. The circular and longitudinal muscle layers are poste riorly separated by gliding planes. The cloaca is supplied by branches of the a. mcsenterica posterior and the au. pudendae anteriores, and is drained by the vv. pudendae and a small medial v. eaudalis. The cloaca is innervated dorsally by the plexus ischio·coccygeus and ventrally by a branch of the n.ischiadicus (the n. pudendus). The cloaca of the male serves as a copulatory organ. There is internal fertilization. / No Afrikaans abstract available. / The copy we received from the author were pages individually scanned in as JPEG images.