Guibemantis depressiceps (Boulenger)

Vejarano, Silvia, Thomas, Meike & Vences, Miguel, 2006, Comparative larval morphology in Madagascan frogs of the genus Guibemantis (Amphibia: Mantellidae), Zootaxa 1329, pp. 39-57 : 48

Guibemantis depressiceps (Boulenger)

Series examined: ZSM 425–429/2004 (fieldnumber 2002.1811; Genbank accession DQ054492 ) series of 6 specimens from Vohiparara, Kidanavo bridge (21°13’50”S / 47°22’08”E, 1115 m above sea level) collected in a relatively slow-moving brook on 21 January 2003.

Description based on the DNA voucher specimen. Tadpole in stage 26. For morphometric data see tables 3 and 4. Colour in preservative homogeneous brown. The intestinal wall also pigmented and the intestinal spiral visible. Ventral part of the body lacks pigmentation. Anterior part of the tail with faint transverse stripes, but the rest of the tail and caudal fin are missing because of tissue sampling. Tadpole type IV ( Orton 1953). Body shape oval. Snout in dorsal view almost rounded. Eyes medium-sized (about 0.1 of body length) dorsally positioned (fig. 2a and b). Spiracle difficult to recognize. Oral disc laterally emarginated, and positioned ventrally (fig. 2c). Dorsal gap of the marginal papillae long (2.13 mm). Oral disc bordered by 51 marginal papillae (˜ 0.1 mm) that decrease in size towards the emargination. One row of 14 submarginal papillae on the lower lip, three on the right side of the upper lip and only a small one on the left side. LTRF 1:6+6/1+1:2 ( Dubois 1995) or 7(2–7)/3(1) ( Altig & McDiarmid 1999); UTR1 with thinner, longer and more teeth per millimetre (ca. 75/mm) than the rest (ca. 45–65/mm) and becoming shorter at the borders. From UTR2 on, they are separated by the upper jaw sheath. LTR1 with a short gap. Jaw sheaths distinct and black, with serrated edges (ca. 60 on each jaw). Sheath of upper jaw strongly curved in the middle, and lower jaw sheath resembling a wide V.

Variation within the series. 5 specimens in stages 25–28. LTRF 5(2–5)/3(1) in 2 specimens in stage 25 and 6(2–6)/3(1) in the rest. 45–61 marginal papillae 2–3 on each side of the upper lip and 4–8 on each side of the lower. Coloration, general and oral disc morphology agree in all specimens with the DNA voucher.

Previous descriptions. The tadpole of G. depressiceps has been described by Blommers-Schlösser (1979) from specimens collected in central eastern Madagascar (Andasibe, Mandraka and Moramanga-Anosibe) between 900–1200 m above sea level; tadpoles in stages 25–30 measured up to 10 mm body length and up to 15 mm in stage 38; they were typical type IV tadpoles ( Orton 1953); mouth small, directed downwards; oral disc indented laterally, and papillary border with a wide dorsal gap; labial tooth row formula (LTRF) was 6(2–6)/3(1) or 7(2–7)/3(1).