Boophis axelmeyeri Vences, Andreone & Vieites

Glos, Julian & Vences, Miguel, 2010, Description of ten tadpoles in the genus Boophis from Madagascar, Zootaxa 2694, pp. 1-25 : 8-9

Boophis axelmeyeri Vences, Andreone & Vieites

The following description refers to one tadpole in developmental stage 25 (ZSM 0629/2008; field number FGZC 2938, TL 26.6 mm, BL 10.7 mm; Table 1 ), from Marojejy National Park. The 16S rDNA sequence of this specimen was 99% identical to a reference sequence of an adult specimen of B. axelmeyeri (accession AF215336 ) from the same locality.

In dorsal view, body elliptical, maximal width attained between the proximal 1/4 and 1/2 of the body (SBW 47% of BL), narrowly rounded snout. In lateral view, body depressed (BW 115% of BH) maximal body height attained between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SBH 62 % of BL), rounded snout. Eyes moderately large (ED 13% of BL), not visible from ventral view, positioned dorsally and oriented dorsolaterally, situated between the proximal 3/10 and 4/10 of the body, moderately wide distance between eyes (IOD 56% of BW). Moderately large oval nares (NS 3% BL), marked with marginal rim, positioned dorsally and oriented anterolaterally, situated nearer to snout than to eye (RN 75% of NP), wide distance between nares ( IND 67% of IOD), black spot on the back of the nare present, ornamentation absent. Moderately long sinistral spiracle (SP 13% of BL), directed posteriorly, visible from dorsal and ventral views and perceptible from lateral view, inner wall free from body and formed such that aperture opens laterally instead of posteriorly, rounded opening, situated between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SS 62% of BL), located below the height of the point where the axis of the tail myotomes contact the body. Long dextral vent tube (VL 13% of BL), associated with ventral fin, inner wall present. Tail of moderate length (TAL 149% of BL), maximal tail height lower than body height (MTH 97% of BH), tail height at midtail equal to body height and maximal tail height (THM 97% of BH and THM 100% of MTH), tail height at the beginning of the tail lower than body height (TH 86% of BH). Moderately developed caudal musculature (TMW 57% of BW, TMH 65% of BH and 67% of MTH, TMHM 49% of THM and MTH). Tail muscle reaches tail extremity. Very low fin type (DF 57% of TMHM, VF 49% of TMHM), dorsal fin higher than ventral fin (DF 117% VF). Dorsal fin originates on the dorsal body-tail junction, increases to reach maximal height and then declines abruptly until the caudal extremity. Ventral fin originates at the ventral terminus of the body, progress almost constant and decreases to the end of the tail to join the caudal extremity. Maximal tail height located in the mid-tail, lateral tail and myosepta visible on the proximal 3/4 of the tail, tail tip narrowly rounded.

Oral disk of moderate size (ODW 40% of BW), positioned ventrally and oriented antero-ventrally, emarginated, maximal width in the upper labium. Oral disk not visible from dorsal view, upper labium is a continuation of snout. Single row of marginal papillae interrupted by small ventral gap (VG 10% of ODW) and a very wide dorsal gap (DG 81% of ODW), total number of marginal papillae 68 (32 right and 36 left). Sixteen submarginal papillae positioned laterally (9 right and 7 left). Moderately long conical papillae with rounded tips, not visible from dorsal view, longest marginal and submarginal papillae measured 0.10 mm and 0.13 mm, respectively. Jaw sheath fully keratinized with pointed serrations, moderately wide (JL 48% of ODW) with very small medial convexity (MC 4% of JL). Lower jaw sheath partially pigmented, V- shaped. LTRF 5(2–4)/3(1). Single row of keratodonts per ridge. Very large A1 (92% of ODW). Density of keratodonts on A1 73/mm (total 132). Very narrow gap in the first anterior interrupted row (A2gap 11% of A2). Short, discernible keratodonts (0.09 mm). Labial teeth distinguishable from one another. In most of the rows, the size decreases towards the peripheries. Narrow space between marginal papillae and keratodont rows.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally, beige with brown spots dissipated dorsally and dorsolaterally. Laterally, intestinal coils well visible. Ventrally translucent, intestine well visible, regularly spiral shaped. Tail musculature whitish with brown spots. Fin transparent with some dots.

Variation. Based on 17 tadpoles at stages 25–32 from Marojejy National Park, including three DNA voucher specimens (FGZC 2931, 2932, 2933) ( Table 5 ). All specimens are in the UADBA collection. TL and BL are 15–38 mm and 8–14 mm, respectively. BW 110–135% of BH; ED 12–16% of BL; RN 50–77% of NP; IND 52–65% of IOD; SS 33–66% of BL; TMH 61–92% of MTH; TMW 42–60% of BW; MTH 76–118% of BH; ODW 35–46% of BW; LTRF 4(2–4)/3(1), 5(2–5)/3(1).