Guibemantis liber (Peracca)

Vejarano, Silvia, Thomas, Meike & Vences, Miguel, 2006, Comparative larval morphology in Madagascan frogs of the genus Guibemantis (Amphibia: Mantellidae), Zootaxa 1329, pp. 39-57 : 46-48

Guibemantis liber (Peracca) , south-eastern Madagascar

Material examined: ZSM 433/2004 (fieldnumber 2002.1825; Genbank accession DQ054495 ), series of 19 specimens from Samalaotra (21°14.282'S / 47°23.753'E), collected in a pond on 20 January 2003; ZSM 452/2004 (fieldnumber 2002.1893; DQ054498 ), series of 22 specimens, ZSM 451/2004 (fieldnumber 2002.1892; DQ054497 ), one specimen, and ZSM 449/2004 (fieldnumber 2002.1888; DQ054496 ), series of eight specimens from Ranomafana National Park (Park entrance, 21°15’38”S / 47°25’13”E, 846 m above sea level), collected in a temporary pond with maximum depth of 30 cm and many leaves in the bottom, on 17 January 2003.

Description (based on the DNA voucher of series ZSM 433/2004). Tadpole in stage 33. Coloration in preservative light brown without any distinct pattern. The intestinal wall also pigmented and intestinal spiral visible. Ventral part of the body lacks pigmentation. Anterior part of the tail with the same coloration of the body. The end of the tail and caudal fin missing because of tissue sampling. Tadpole type IV ( Orton 1953). Body shape oval. Snout in dorsal view almost rounded. Eyes medium size (about 0.1 of body length) dorsally positioned (fig. 1d and e). Spiracle difficult to recognize. Oral disc laterally emarginated, and ventrally positioned (fig. 1 f). Dorsal gap of the marginal papillae 1.23 mm. Oral disc bordered by 52 marginal papillae more or less equal in length (˜ 0.13 mm). 4-5 submarginal papillae on each side of the lower lip, and 2–3 on the upper lip. LTRF 1:3+3/1+1:2 ( Dubois 1995) or 4(2–4)/3(1) ( Altig & McDiarmid 1999); LTR1 and LTR2 with thinner, longer and more teeth per millimetre (ca. 70/mm) than other tooth rows (ca. 30–42/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. 55 on each jaw). Sheath of upper jaw softly curved in the middle, lower jaw sheath V-shaped.

Variation within series. The series ZSM 433/2004 contains 18 additional tadpoles in stages 26-35. One specimen was discarded because it shows no resemblance with the DNA voucher or others. Number of marginal papillae highly variable (33–71) but mainly around 55. Number of submarginal papillae also variable (0-4 on each side of the upper lip, and 0-7 on the lower). In almost all specimens in stages under 30 LTRF is 3(2–3)/3(1), different from the DNA voucher, but agreeing in every other respect with it. Other tadpoles in stages above 30 have the same LTRF as the DNA voucher and agree in morphology and oral parts. A further specimen in stage 28 has LTRF 3(2–3)/3(2–3).

The series ZSM 452/2004 contains 22 tadpoles in stages 26–28. Four specimens were discarded because of sustained differences with the DNA voucher. In all other specimens LTRF varies among individuals 3(2–3)/3(1) or 2(2)/3(1). 31–44 marginal papillae, except two specimens with 48. All specimens with 0-4 submarginal papillae on each side of upper and lower lip. The series ZSM 449/2004 contains eight tadpoles in stages 27 except one in stage 28. One specimen was discarded because of sustained differences with the rest of the series. LTRF is 3(2–3)/3(1) in 3 specimens (including the one in stage 28) and 2(2)/3(1) in the rest. 27–44 marginal papillae; 0–3 submarginal papillae on each side of the upper lip and 2–4 on each side of the lower lip. The series FG/MV ZSM 451/2004 contains only the DNA voucher specimen.

Variation among series. DNA voucher of series ZSM 449/2004, 451/2004, and 452/ 2004, are in stage 27 and have LTRF 2(2)/3(1). Coloration, general and oral morphology is similar among them and to the DNA voucher description of series ZSM 433/2004, except for the numbers of marginal and submarginal papillae which are highly variable (table 2). DNA voucher of series ZSM 452/2004, 36 marginal papillae; one submarginal papilla on each side of the upper lip and 2-3 on each side of the lower lip. Coloration of the DNA voucher of series ZSM 449/2004 is lighter than that of other series, but the pattern is the same; 40 marginal papillae; one submarginal papilla on the left side of the upper lip and three on each side of the lower. DNA voucher of series ZSM 451/2004, 35 marginal papillae; one small submarginal papilla on the right side of the upper lip and 2-3 on each side of the lower lip.

As shown in table 1, the measurements and number of labial teeth between the series from the same geographic region show no strong variation. Variation among individuals of different series is mainly related to the developmental stage.