Boophis rhodoscelis (Boulenger)

Glos, Julian & Vences, Miguel, 2010, Description of ten tadpoles in the genus Boophis from Madagascar, Zootaxa 2694, pp. 1-25 : 14-16

Boophis rhodoscelis (Boulenger)

The following description refers to one tadpole in developmental stage 33 (ZSM 0630/2008, field number ZCMV 2643, TL 40.5 mm, BL 14.7 mm; Table 1 ), from Vohiparara (near Ranomafana National Park). The 16S rDNA sequence of this specimen was 100 % identical to a reference sequence of an adult B. rhodoscelis (accession AY848618 ) from Ranomafana National Park.

In dorsal view, body elliptical, maximal width attained between the proximal 1/4 and 1/2 of the body (SBW 40% of BL), broadly rounded snout. In lateral view, body depressed (BW 127% of BH), maximal body height attained on the proximal 3/4 of the body (SBH 75% of BL), rounded snout. Eyes large (ED 14% of BL), not visible from ventral view, positioned dorsally and oriented laterally, situated between the proximal 3/ 10 and 4/10 of the body, wide distance between eyes (IOD 76% of BW). Moderately large elliptical nares (NS 2% of BL), marked with marginal rim, positioned dorsally and oriented anterodorsally, situated nearer to snout than to eye (RN 63% of NP), moderately wide distance between nares ( IND 43% of IOD), black spot on the back of the nare present, ornamentation absent. Moderately long sinistral spiracle (SP 12% of BL), directed posteriorly, visible from dorsal and ventral views and obvious from lateral view, inner wall free from body and aperture opens laterally instead of posteriorly, round opening, situated between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SS 55% of BL), located below the level of the point where the axis of the tail myotomes contact the body. Short dextral vent tube (VL 9% of BL) attached to the ventral fin. Tail of moderate length (TAL 141% of BL), maximal tail height higher than body height (MTH 118% of BH), tail height at midtail higher than body height and lower maximal tail height (THM 109% of BH and THM 92% of MTH), tail height at the beginning of the tail lower than body height (TH 98% of BH). Weakly developed caudal musculature (TMW 51% of BW, TMH 70% of BH and 59% of MTH, TMHM 50% of THM and 46% of MTH). Tail muscle reaches tail tip. Very low fins (DF 63% of TMHM, VF 39% of TMHM), dorsal fin lower than ventral fin (DF 162% of VF). Dorsal fin originates on the dorsal body-tail junction, progresses to the maximal tail height, and then declines up to the tail tip. Ventral fin originates on the ventral terminus of the body, increases up to the maximal tail height, and then decreases to the tip of the tail. Maximal tail height at mid-tail, lateral tail vein visible in the proximal 1/3 of the tail, myosepta visible all along the tail, tail tip narrowly rounded.

Oral disk of moderate size (ODW 48% of BW), positioned and oriented 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 moderately wide dorsal gap (DG 67% of ODW), and a very narrow ventral gap, total number of marginal papillae 105 (52 in the right and 53 in the left). Thirty-nine submarginal papillae (20 in the right and 19 in the left) positioned laterally. Moderately long conical papillae with protuberance, rounded tip, not visible from dorsal view, longest marginal and submarginal papillae measured 0.14 mm and 0.10 mm, respectively. Upper jaw sheaths fully keratinized with rounded serrations, moderately wide (JL 41% of ODW) with very small medial convexity (MC 5% of JL). Lower jaw sheath wide V-shaped, with three colors, black in the 1/3 of the margin, brown in the median 1/3, and white in the 1/3 of the base. LTRF 5(2–5)/3(1). Single row of keratodonts per ridge. Moderately sized A1 row (57% of ODW). Density of keratodonts on A1 70/mm (total 160). Short, discernible keratodont (0.13 mm). Keratodont size variable, generally smaller at the margins. Narrow space between marginal papillae and keratodont rows.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally, body brownish, except in front of the snout, tail is whitish, with brown spots of different shapes. Dorsolaterally similar to dorsal view, snout and the area below the eye and the spiracle are transparent. Ventrolaterally similar to ventral view. Laterally, the caudal musculature is brown with many different shaped spots that are concentrated in some areas. The striations are well visible in the proximal 1/3 of the tail. Fins generally transparent, dorsal fin with some spots and fine striations. In ventral view the body is translucent, intestinal coils is well visible.

Variation. TL and BL of one additional non-voucher specimen at stage 32, from Vohiparara (ZCMV 2643) are 40 mm and 15 mm, respectively. This specimen is deposited in the UADBA collection. BW 115% of BH; ED 14% of BL; RN 70% of NP; IND 40% of IOD; SS 66% of BL; TMH 100% of MTH; TMW 49% of BW; MTH 68% of BH; ODW 45% of BW. LTRF 5(2–5)/3(1).