Scaphiophryne calcarata (Mocquard, 1895)

Grosjean, Stéphane, Glos, Julian, Teschke, Meike, Glaw, Frank & Vences, Miguel, 2007, Comparative larval morphology of Madagascan toadlets of the genus Scaphiophryne: phylogenetic and taxonomic inferences, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (3), pp. 555-576 : 566-567

SCAPHIOPHRYNE CALCARATA (MOCQUARD, 1895)

Amplectant pairs were collected at temporary breeding pools in open areas within Kirindy forest . The pools were small (<10 m 2), shallow (<10 cm) and had little coverage of aquatic vegetation. Subsequently, fertilized eggs from these amplectant pairs were reared in plastic aquaria. The description is based on one specimen at stage 32 ( TL and BL are 16.7 and 5.9 mm, respectively) included in the batch ZSM 410/ 2004. Drawings are based on a specimen at stage 31 from the batch ZSM 410/2004. Buccopharyngeal features are described on the basis of one tadpole at stage 32 from the same batch .

External morphology: Dorsal view ( Fig. 1I ). In profile ( Fig. 1J ), body flat below, BW 135% of BH; snout small, vertical and directed slightly upward. Eyes moderately sized, ED 10% of BL. RN 103% of NP, NN 28% of PP. Spiracle square, large, closer to end of body than to tip of snout, SS 73% of BL; spiracular opening situated below the insertion of hindlimb. MC 35% of BH and of HT, proximal third parallel with a swelling at that point then gradually tapering, almost reaching tail tip. Fins moderately sized, UF 32% of HT, LF 36% of HT, straight on most part then decreasing in the distal third to form the end of the tail, SU 64% of BL; point of maximum height of tail located at the proximal third, HT 102% of BH, tail tip round but fine. Ventral tube tubular.

Oral disc ( Fig. 2M ) moderately sized, in position and orientation terminal, ODW 23% of BL and 31% of BW. The median marginal papillae of lower labium bigger than the other and directed forward; a row of 5–6 submarginal papillae on each side on the upper labium, DG 45% of ODW, a row of very small submarginal papillae on the lower labium; papillae moderately small to small, marginal papillae conical or round with rounded tip. Upper jaw sheath almost flat with a weak medial convexity, lower jaw sheath U-shaped very open.

Coloration in preservative: Upper side pigmented by numerous dark brown spots contained mainly in underlying tissues, a band from the snout through between the eyes and which enlarges to cover the upper part of intestine. Flanks immaculate except the orbitohyoideus muscle and the upper part of the intestine. Ventral side immaculate. Caudal muscle neatly pigmented with dark brown spots, the size of spots decreasing dorsoventrally (except a small immaculate anteroventral part). Fins immaculate except a few small spots on the upper part of the upper fin. Upper part of hindlimbs immaculate.

Variation: The ratios taken on eight tadpoles at stages 29–39, except for RN/NP, NN/PP, SU/BL and DG/ ODW for which only two specimens were involved, vary in the following proportions: BW 121–138 % of BH; RN 104–106 % of NP; NN 28 % of PP; SS 69–81 % of BL; MC 33–42 % of BH; MC 35–47 % of HT; UF 30– 39 % of HT; LF 33–41 % of HT; SU 56 % of BL; HT 89– 106 % of BH; ODW 19–24 % of BL; ODW 26–36 % of BW; DG 50–63 % of ODW.

Buccal floor ( Fig. 2N ): Prelingual arena non-existent, two pustules anterolaterally on the internal wall of the beak; a pair of small prelingual papillae posterolaterally to the beak, directed medially; a single medial gutter-shaped papillae originating just posterior to the beak, directed posteriorly and covering the tongue anlage, its distal part with three projections corresponding to the lateral and posterior end of the gutter. Buccal floor arena oval delimited anteriorly by a papilla on each side anterolaterally, a papilla medially to buccal pocket and posteriorly by a transversal row of about 11 large papillae, the largest medial. Buccal pockets wide, deep, transversely orientated, unperforated; two small prepocket papillae. Ventral velum with spicular support, bearing a pair of projections on each half medially (the most lateral above the second filter plate); medial notch present, a vertical papillae in front of the glottis; secretory pits not obvious; glottis behind the velum.

Buccal roof ( Fig. 2O ): Prenarial arena wide and pentagonal, with a small median transversal ridge bearing two small papillae. Narial valve as a large and elongate structure. Postnarial arena small, covered by the medial ridge. Medial ridge triangular with its extremity bifid. One pair of triangular and smooth lateral ridge papillae, posterolateral to narial valve. Buccal roof arena non-existent, a very few pustulations scattered within. Posterolateral ridges few prominent, present through the buccal roof. Glandular zone present as a narrow granular band extending through the buccal roof; secretory pits not visible. Dorsal velum interrupted medially, lateral edges curved anteriorly.

Figures

Figure 1. Dorsal and lateral views of tadpoles of Scaphiophryne madagascariensis (stage 35, ZSM 595/2004) (A, B), S. menabensis (stage 35, ZSM 413/2004) (C, D), S. spinosa (stage 29, ZSM 604/2004) (E, F), S. brevis (stage 31, ZSM 618/ 2004) (G, H) and S. calcarata (stage 31, ZSM 410/2004) (I, J). Scale bars represent 5 mm.

Figure 2. Oral disc (OD), buccal floor (BF) and buccal roof (BR) of tadpoles of Scaphiophryne madagascariensis (OD: ZSM 600/2004; BF, BR: stage 38, ZSM 599/2004) (A–C), S. menabensis (OD: stage 36 BF, BR: stage 36); all from specimens in batch ZSM 413/2004) (D–F), S. spinosa (OD: stage 28, ZSM 616/2004; BF, BR: stage 29, ZSM 612/2004) (G–I), S. brevis (OD: stage 34; BF, BR: stage 31, ZSM 619/2004) (J–L) and S. calcarata (OD: stage 34; BF, BR: stage 32; both from specimens in batch ZSM 410/2004) (M–O). Scale bars are indicated on the images.