Boophis anjanaharibeensis Andreone

Glos, Julian & Vences, Miguel, 2010, Description of ten tadpoles in the genus Boophis from Madagascar, Zootaxa 2694, pp. 1-25 : 7-8

Boophis anjanaharibeensis Andreone

The following description refers to one tadpole in developmental stage 25 (ZSM 0624/2008, field number FGZC 2245, TL 22 mm, BL 8.9 mm; Table 1 ), from Marojejy National Park. The 16S rDNA sequence of this specimen was 100 % identical to a reference sequence of an adult specimen of B. anjanaharibeensis (accession EF682212 ) from the same locality.

In dorsal view, body elliptical, maximal width attained between the proximal 1/4 and 1/2 of the body (SBW 48% BL), rounded snout. In lateral view, body depressed (BW 124% of BH), maximal body height attained at the proximal 3/4 of the body (SBH 75% of BL), rounded snout. Eyes large (ED 16% of BL), not visible from ventral view, positioned dorsally and oriented laterally, situated between the proximal 3/10 and 4/10 of the body, wide distance between eyes (IOD 72% of BW). Moderately large elliptical nares (NS 3% of BL), marked with marginal rim, positioned dorsally and oriented anterolaterally, situated nearer to snout than to eye (RN 69 % of NP), moderately wide distance between nares ( IND 53% of IOD), black spot on the back of the nare present, ornamentation absent. Moderately long sinistral spiracle (SP 14% of BL), directed posterodorsally, visible from dorsal and ventral views and perceptible from lateral view, inner wall free from body and aperture opens posteriorly, elliptical opening, situated between the proximal 1/2 and 3/4 of the body (SS 61% of BL), located below the level of the point where the axis of the tail myotomes contact the body. Long medial vent tube (VL 13% of BL) with lateral displacement, attached to the ventral fin. Tail of moderate length (TAL 141% of BL), maximal tail height lower than body height (MTH 81% of BH), tail height at midtail lower than body height and maximal tail height (THM 70% of BH and THM 86% of MTH), tail height at the beginning of the tail lower than body height (TH 83% of BH). Moderately developed caudal musculature (TMW 65% of BW, TMH 67% of BH and 81% of MTH, TMHM 63% of THM and 54 % of MTH). Tail muscle reaches tail tip. Very low fins (DF 29% of TMHM, VF 26% of TMHM), dorsal fin higher than ventral fin (DF 112% of VF). Dorsal fin originates on the dorsal body-tail junction, progresses to the maximal tail height, then declines up to the tail tip. Ventral fin originates on the ventral terminus of the body, progresses parallel to the margin of the tail muscle up to maximal tail height, then decreases to the tip of the tail. Maximal tail height 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.

Oral disk of moderate size (ODW 55% of BW), positioned and oriented ventrally, 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 moderately wide dorsal gap (DG 63% of ODW), ventral gap absent, total number of marginal papillae 85. Nineteen submarginal papillae (9 in the right and 10 in the left) positioned laterally. Moderately long conical papillae with protuberance, rounded tip, not visible from dorsal view, longest marginal and submarginal papillae measured 0.11 mm and 0.10 mm respectively. Jaw sheaths fully keratinized with rounded serrations, moderately wide (JL 45% of ODW) with very small medial convexity (MC 5% of JL). Lower jaw sheath U-shaped, partially hidden by upper sheath. LTRF 5(4–5)/3(1). Single row of keratodonts per ridge. Very wide A1 (75% of ODW). Density of keratodonts on A1 110/mm (total 110). Short, discernible keratodonts (0.11 mm). A5 is much smaller than the other rows. Moderate space between marginal papillae and keratodont rows.

Coloration in preservative. Dorsally, body and tail brownish caused by dark pigmentation of different forms that are distributed over the total body except at the margins. Dorsolaterally body is brownish, ventrolaterally body is translucent. Fins transparent. Ventrally, the intestinal coils are clearly visible.

Variation. TL and BL of one additional specimen (not a DNA voucher) at stage 25, from Marojejy National Park (FGZC 2245) are 19 mm and 7 mm, respectively. This specimen is deposited in the UADBA collection. BW 118% of BH; ED 14% of BL; RN 80% of NP; IND 61% of IOD; SS 69% of BL; TMH 100% of MTH; TMW 46% of BW; MTH 64% of BH; ODW 46% of BW. LTRF 5(2–5)/3(1).