Boophis reticulatus Blommers-Schlösser, 1979

Raharivololoniaina, Liliane, Grosjean, Stéphane, Raminosoa, Noromalala Rasoamampionona, Glaw, Frank & Vences, Miguel, 2006, Molecular identification, description, and phylogenetic implications of the tadpoles of 11 species of Malagasy treefrogs, genus Boophis, Journal of Natural History 40 (23 - 24), pp. 1449-1480 : 1455-1457

Boophis reticulatus Blommers-Schlösser, 1979

( Figure 2 )

The following description refers to one voucher specimen in developmental stage 41 (ZSM 525/2004, field number LR 68, TL 42.5 mm, BL 14.0 mm), from locality 1.

In dorsal view ( Figure 2a ), body ovoid elongate, snout rounded. In lateral view ( Figure 2b ), body depressed, BW 131% of BH, snout rounded. Eyes moderately large, ED 14.0% of BL, bulging, not visible in ventral view, positioned dorsolaterally but directed slightly more laterally than anterolaterally or dorsolaterally, situated at about the anterior quarter of the body. Nares elliptical, rimmed with a mediodorsal projection giving them a bean shape, moderately small, positioned dorsolaterally, directed anterodorsally and about equidistant between tip of snout and anterior edge of eyes, RN 106% of NP; NN 53% of PP. Spiracle sinistral, moderately sized, tubular, well visible from dorsal view, distal half free from body, spiracular opening orientated posterodorsally, closer to end of body than to snout, SS 65% of BL, situated at the height of the lower part of tail musculature. Vent tube moderately sized, short, dextral, opening dextral at ventral edge of fin, its right wall displaced anterodorsally, directed posterolaterally, linked to ventral tail fin except its tip. Tail long and tapered. Caudal musculature strong, TMH 64% of BH and 87% of MTH, TMW 46% of BW, at mid-length of tail its height is equal to half of total tail height, reaching tail tip. Caudal fins regular with straight edges, moderately weakly developed, their general appearance almost similar throughout tail musculature, point of maximum height attained in the second half of the tail, MTH 74% of BH; dorsal fin originating at the dorsal tail–body junction and slightly taller than ventral fin at mid-length of tail; tail tip bluntly pointed, its state as reproduced in Figure 2 (caudal fins not reaching tail tip) probably being an artefact of preservation or damage during transport.

Oral disc ( Figure 2c ) of moderate size, ODW 21% of BL and 38% of BW, positioned and directed ventrally, emarginated. A single row of marginal papillae interrupted by a large median gap on the upper labium (DG 73% of ODW) and by a small medial gap on the lower labium; total number of marginal papillae about 81 (43 on the left side and 38 on the right side). A few submarginal papillae positioned in the lateral parts of anterior and posterior labia. Papillae moderately large, cylindrical with rounded or pointed tips. No denticulate papillae. Keratodont row formula 1:3+3/1+1:2. The density of keratodonts on A1 is about 55 per mm (a total of ca 144). The length of interrupted anterior keratodont rows (A2, A3, and A4) decreases gradually towards the centre of the disc, P1 and P2 are of about similar size, slightly longer than P3. Both jaw sheaths coarsely serrated; upper jaw completely black with a large medial serration surrounded by smaller serrations on each side forming a slight convexity; lower jaw partially pigmented, strong and V-shaped.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally: whole body and caudal musculature dark brown and covered by scattered black dots; dark pigments concentrated dorsally forming dark patches slightly visible on the interorbital area and beside the nares; a dark line slightly visible middorsally on body. Laterally: intestinal coils well visible; body and caudal musculature with scattered dark pigmentation; dorsal fin transparent with a few sparse black dots; ventral fin clear. Ventrally: branchial and cardial region opaque through ventral body wall; intestinal coils well visible.

Variation. TL and BL of two tadpoles at stage 41 (ZSM 525/2004–526/2004) from locality 1 are 36.5–42.5 and 13.0–14.0 mm, respectively. The ratios vary in the following proportions: BW 124–131% of BH; ED 13.1–13.6% of BL; RN 106–121% of NP; NN 53– 57% of PP; SS 63–65% of BL; TMH 64–65% of BH; TMH 64–71% of MTH; TMW 46– 51% of BW; MTH 90–102% of BH; ODW 20–21% of BL; ODW 38–39% of BW. KRF of the two tadpoles is 1:3+3/1+1:2.

Figures

Figure 2. Drawings of the tadpole of Boophis reticulatus (ZSM 525/2004). (a) Dorsal view; (b) lateral view; (c) oral disc.