Boophis elenae Andreone

Glos, Julian & Vences, Miguel, 2010, Description of ten tadpoles in the genus Boophis from Madagascar, Zootaxa 2694, pp. 1-25 : 9-10

Boophis elenae Andreone

The following description refers to one tadpole in developmental stage 25 (ZSM 0631/2008, field number ZCMV 2692, TL 19.1 mm, BL 6.3 mm; Table 1 ), from Ranomafana National Park. The 16S rDNA sequence of this specimen was 99.8 % identical to a reference sequence of an adult B. elenae (accession AY848469 ) from Antoetra.

In dorsal view, body elliptical, maximal width attained between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SBW 64% of BL), broadly rounded snout. In lateral view, body depressed (BW 117% of BH), maximal body height attained between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SBH 65% of BL), rounded snout. Eyes large (ED 19% of BL), not visible from ventral view, positioned dorsally and oriented dorsolaterally, situated between the proximal 4/10 and 5/10 of the body, wide distance between eyes (IOD 77% of BW). Moderately large elliptical nares (NS 4% of BL), marked with marginal rim, positioned dorsally and oriented anterodorsally, situated nearer to snout than to eye (RN 57% of NP), moderately wide distance between nares ( IND 55% of IOD), black spot on the back of the nare present, ornamentation absent. Moderately long sinistral spiracle (SP 11% of BL), directed posterodorsally, visible from dorsal and ventral views and perceptible from lateral view, inner wall free from body and aperture opens posteriorly, round opening, situated between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SS 69% of BL), located below the level of the point where the axis of the tail myotomes contact the body. Long dextral vent tube (VL 14% of BL), attached to ventral fin, inner wall present. Tail of moderate length (TAL 161% of BL), maximal tail height lower than body height (MTH 75% of BH), tail height at midtail lower than body height and maximal tail height (THM 70% of BH and THM 93% of MTH), tail height at the beginning of the tail lower than body height (TH 83% of BH). Moderately developed caudal musculature (TMW 54% of BW, TMH 64% of BH and 85% of MTH, TMHM 61% of THM and 57% of MTH). Tail muscle reaches tail tip. Very low fins (DF 39% of TMHM, VF 27% of TMHM), dorsal fin higher than ventral fin (DF 145% of VF). Dorsal fin originates on the proximal 1/ 5 of the tail musculature, progresses parallel to the margin of the tail muscle up to the tip of the tail. Ventral fin originates on the ventral terminus of the body, progresses parallel to the margin of the tail muscle up to the tip of the tail. Maximal tail height located between the proximal 1/4 and 1/2 of the tail, lateral tail vein visible on the proximal 1/2 of the tail, myosepta visible on the proximal 3/4 of the tail, tail tip narrowly rounded.

Small oral disk (ODW 27% of BW), positioned ventrally and oriented anteroventrally, not emarginated, maximal width in the middle. Oral disk not visible from dorsal view, upper labium is a continuation of snout. Single row of marginal papillae interrupted by a very wide dorsal gap (DG 81% of ODW), total number of marginal papillae 56. Eighteen submarginal papillae positioned laterally (10 in the right and 8 in the left). Long conical papillae with protuberance, rounded tips, not visible from dorsal view, longest marginal and submarginal papillae measured 0.19 mm and 0.22 mm, respectively. Jaw sheaths fully keratinized with pointed serrations, moderately wide (JL 51% of ODW) with very small medial convexity (MC 3% of JL). Lower jaw sheath V- shaped. LTRF 3(2–3)/3(1). Single row of keratodonts per ridge. Moderately sized A1 (53% of ODW). Density of keratodonts on A1 49/mm (total 78). Very narrow gap in the first anterior interrupted row (A2gap 4% of A2). Short, discernible keratodonts (0.11 mm). Labial teeth distinguishable from one another. In most of the rows, the size decreases towards the peripheries. Narrow space between marginal papillae and keratodont rows.

Coloration in life. Body dorsum and flank with black pigmentation, ventral, gular and branchial regions whitish, abdominal surface silverish. Tail yellowish with many blotches.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally, body covered by brown blotches that are condensed to form a dark region except in the beginning of the snout and in the anterior of the eyes. Dorsolaterally equal to dorsally. Ventrally, gular and branchial regions whitish, abdominal surface dark colored, intestine invisible.

Variation. Based on 128 tadpoles at stages 25–34, all from Ranomafana (ZCMV 2689, 2692, 2693, 3637, 3700, 3701), of which six are DNA voucher specimens ( Table 3 ). All specimens are in the UADBA collections. TL and BL are 22–45 mm and 10–18 mm, respectively. BW 75–155% of BH; ED 13–21% of BL; RN 40–94% of NP; IND 43–90% of IOD; SS 41–94% of BL; TMH 69–157% of MTH; TMW 36–60% of BW; MTH 41–103% of BH; ODW 30–67% of BW; LTRF 3(2–3)/3(1), 2(2)/3(1).