Chiasmocleis shudikarensis, Dunn, 1949

Schiesari, Luis, Rossa-Feres, Denise De Cerqueira, Menin, Marcelo & Hödl, Walter, 2022, Tadpoles of Central Amazonia (Amphibia: Anura), Zootaxa 5223 (1), pp. 1-149 : 97-98

Chiasmocleis shudikarensis

External morphology. Description based on 13 tadpoles between Stages 36 and 38 (LSC 614; INPA-H 1572, 8421; CZPB-LA 39/111, 40/112). Total length 15.0 ± 2.0 mm (N = 13). Body oval in dorsal view and triangular in lateral views ( Fig. 63A, B ). Snout truncate in dorsal and lateral views. Eyes small, positioned and directed laterally. Nostrils not perforated. Mouth terminal. Anterior lip narrow, fleshy, covering the oral opening; posterior lip narrow with U-shaped medial notch. Jaw sheaths, papillae and tooth rows absent. Spiracle single, long and wide, positioned ventromedially; distal border projecting over the vent tube, with small finger-shaped projections. Vent tube dextral, fused to the ventral fin, with a ventral opening. Caudal musculature of moderate width; in lateral view gradually tapering to a pointed tip. Dorsal fin shallow, originating at the tail-body junction, convex; ventral fin high and convex. In dorsal and ventral fins near the base of the tail there is a peculiar thickening. Tail with flagellum.

Colour. In preservative dorsum and caudal musculature with dark melanophores, venter whitish with scattered melanophores on anterior part; fins translucent with few melanophores. In life dorsum greenish, venter whitish, tail fins translucent; tail muscle greenish with melanophores up to half its length; posterior third of tail muscle whitish ( Menin et al. 2011b).

Variation. External nostrils no perforated and dorsally positioned, consisting of a rounded whitish spot at the Stage 43; projections of the spiracle are visible at Stages 25 to 35 and are reduced at Stages 36 to 38 ( Menin et al. 2011b).

Natural history. Clutches contain about 230 eggs and are laid on the water surface ( Lima et al. 2012) in isolated temporary ponds in terra-firme forests ( Menin et al. 2011b). Tadpoles are found in most months of the year.

Comments. Tadpoles of C. shudikarensis from Central Amazonia were illustrated by Hero (1990) and described by Menin et al. (2011b). Tadpoles illustrated by Hero (1990) differ from those herein characterized by presenting a noticeable constriction in the posterior third of the body in dorsal view, and a short spiracle that does not reach the vent tube. Tadpoles herein characterized are similar to those described by Menin et al. (2011b).

Genus Ctenophryne . Only one species of Ctenophryne is found in the Central Amazon.

Figures

FIGURE 63. Tadpole of Chiasmocleis shudikarensis (LCS 614) at Stage 39: (A) lateral view and (B) dorsal view (scale = 10 mm).