Boophis madagascariensis (Peters, 1874)

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 : 1457-1459

Boophis madagascariensis (Peters, 1874)

( Figure 3 )

The following description is based on one tadpole in developmental stage 35 (ZSM 519/ 2004, field number LR 5, TL 34.7 mm, BL 13.7 mm), from locality 5.

In dorsal view ( Figure 3a ), body ovoid elongate, snout rounded. In lateral view ( Figure 3b ), body depressed, BW 117% of BH, snout rounded. Eyes of moderate size, ED 11.0% of BL, very slightly bulging, not visible in ventral view, positioned dorsolaterally but directed almost laterally, situated at about the anterior third of the body. Pineal ocellus in line with the anterior margin of eyes. Nares moderately sized, elliptical, rimmed with a flat mediodorsal projection giving them a bean shape, positioned dorsolaterally, directed anterolaterally and slightly dorsally, nearer to anterior edge of eyes than to snout, RN 109% of NP; NN 55% of PP. Spiracle sinistral, moderately sized, well visible from dorsal view, oval, its tip free from body; spiracular opening orientated posteriorly, closer to end of body than to snout, SS 66% 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 posteriorly. Caudal musculature moderately strong, TMH 54% of BH and 58% of MTH, TMW 49% of BW, at mid-length of tail its height is two-fifths of the total tail height, reaching tail tip. Caudal fins regular with straight edges, MTH 93% of BH; dorsal fin low, originating on tail muscle and wider than ventral fin; tail tip pointed.

Oral disc ( Figure 3c ) of moderate size, ODW 26% of BL and 43% of BW, positioned and directed anteroventrally, emarginated. A single row of marginal papillae interrupted by a large median gap on the upper labium (DG 81% of ODW) and without visible gap on the lower labium; total number of marginal papillae about 95. Submarginal papillae present, some of them clustered at the corners of the disc but most localized on posterior labium and distributed in two rows. Papillae of moderate size, elongate with rounded tip. No denticulate papillae. Keratodont row formula 1:5+5/1+1:2. The density of keratodonts on A1 is about 60 per mm (a total of 164). The length of interrupted anterior keratodont rows (A2–A6) decreases gradually towards the centre of disc, P1 interrupted by a gap of less than 0.1 mm, keratodont rows of lower labium subequal in size. Both jaw sheaths completely dark pigmented; upper jaw a wide flattened, medially convex arch, finely serrated; lower jaw V-shaped, moderately finely serrated.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally: body grey with sparse dark markings, caudal musculature with scattered dark pigmentation. Laterally: intestinal coils visible; fins translucent with sparse black dots. Ventrally: branchial and cardial region not visible through ventral body wall; intestinal coils obscure.

Variation. TL and BL of six tadpoles at stages 28–37, all from locality 5 (ZSM 517–520, and LR 4, LR 17) are 24.5–35.6 and 10.8–15.6 mm, respectively. The ratios vary in the following proportions: BW 117–157% of BH; ED 10.0–12.2% of BL; RN 109–207% of NP; NN 54–63% of PP; SS 61–69% of BL; TMH 54–71% of BH; TMH 58–84% of MTH; TMW 43–58% of BW; MTH 67–93% of BH; ODW 26–29% of BL; ODW 42– 57% of BW. KRF of the six tadpoles varies from 1:4+4/1+1:2 to 1:5+5/1+1:2.

Figures

Figure 3. Drawings of the tadpole of Boophis madagascariensis (ZSM 519/2004). (a) Dorsal view; (b) lateral view; (c) oral disc.