Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 1988 No. 1: 27 Jan. 2009
Type: Article
Published: 2009-01-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1988.1.4
Page range: 48–60
Abstract views: 52
PDF downloaded: 1

Description of tadpoles of five frog species in the subgenus Brygoomantis from Madagascar (Mantellidae: Mantidactylus)

Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 8, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 8, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany
Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, 24306 Plön, Germany
Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 8, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Amphibia Anura Mantidactylus alutus Mantidactylus curtus Mantidactylus sp. aff. biporus Mantidactylus sp. aff. curtus tadpole descriptions DNA barcoding

Abstract

We describe the larval stages of five frog species classified in the Madagascan subgenus Brygoomantis of the genus Mantidactylus, which were identified by DNA barcoding: Mantidactylus alutus, Mantidactylus curtus, and three taxonomically undescribed species here named Mantidactylus sp. aff. biporus "Ranomafana", M. sp. aff. biporus "Marojejy", and M. sp. aff. curtus "Ankaratra". The larvae of M. alutus, and of M. sp. aff. curtus "Ankaratra", had been described before, and we confirm and complement the previous studies. Our data confirm that Brygoomantis tadpoles are benthic, of a rather generalized body shape and oral disc morphology. All species for which tadpoles are known so far have a large dorsal gap of marginal papillae, a labial tooth row formula of 3-5 rows on the anterior labium of which only the first is continuous and the others have distinct medial gaps, and three rows of labial teeth on the posterior labium of which the first usually has a very small medial gap which however can sometimes be undetectable. Total number of marginal and submarginal papillae ranges from 50 to 103 and density of labial teeth (on the second upper row) from 19 to 76 per mm.

References

  1. Altig, R. (1970) A key to the tadpoles of the continental Unites States and Canada. Journal of Herpetology, 26, 180–207.

    Altig, R. & Johnston, G.F. (1989) Guilds of anuran larvae: Relationships among developmental modes, morphologies and habitat. Herpetological Monographs, 3, 81–109.

    Altig, R. & McDiarmid, R.W. (1999) Tadpoles: the Biology of Anuran Larvae. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, London, 444 pp.

    Andreone, F., Carpenter, A.I., Cox, N., du Preez, L., Freeman, K., Furrer, S., García, G., Glaw, F., Glos, J., Knox, D., Köhler, J., Mendelson III, J.R., Mercurio, V.,Mittermeier, R.A., Moore, R.D., Rabibisoa, N.H.C., Randriamahazo, H., Randrianasolo, H., Rasomampionona Raminosoa, N., Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona, O., Raxworthy, C.J., Vallan, D., Vences, M., Vieites, D.R. & Weldon C. (2008) The challenge of conserving amphibian megadiversity in Madagascar. PLoS Biology, 6, e118.

    Arnoult, J. & Razarihelisoa, M. (1967) Contribution à l'étude des Batraciens de Madagascar. Le genre Mantidactylus. Adultes et formes larvaires de M. betsileanus (Blgr.), M. curtus (Blgr.) et M. alutus (Prc.). Bulletin du Muséum National d`Histoire naturelle, Paris, 39, 471–487.

    Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. (1979) Biosystematics of the Malagasy frogs, I. Mantellinae (Ranidae). Beaufortia, 29, 1–77.

    Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. & Blanc, C.P. (1991) Amphibiens (première partie). Faune de Madagascar, 75, 1–379.

    Boulenger, G.A. (1918) On the Madagascar frogs of the genus Mantidactylus Blgr. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 19, 257–261.

    Drake, D.L., Altig, R., Grace, J.B. & Walls, S.C. (2007) Occurrence of oral deformities in larval anurans. Copeia, 2007, 449–458.

    Glaw, F. & Vences, M. (1994) A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Second Edition, Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln.

    Glaw, F. & Vences, M. (2006) Phylogeny and genus-level classification of mantellid frogs. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, 6, 236–253.

    Glaw, F. & Vences, M. (2007) A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third Edition, Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln.

    Gosner, K.L. (1960) A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica, 16, 183–190.

    Knoll, A., Köhler, J., Glaw, F., Teschke, M. & Vences, M. (2007) Larval morphology in four species of Madagascan frogs of the subgenus Brygoomantis (Mantellidae: Mantidactylus). Zootaxa, 1616, 49–59.

    Palumbi, S.R., Martin, A., Romano, S., McMillan, W.O., Stice, L. & Grabowski, G. (1991) The Simple Fool`s Guide to PCR, Version 2.0. Privately published, Univ. Hawaii.

    Raharivololoniaina, L., Grosjean, S., Raminosoa, N., Glaw F. & Vences, M. (2006) Molecular identification, description and phylogenetic implications of the tadpoles of 11 species of Malagasy treefrogs, genus Boophis. Journal of Natural History, 40, 1449–1480.

    Randrianiaina, R.-D., Glaw, F., Thomas, M., Glos, J., Raminosoa, N. & Vences, M. (2007) Descriptions of the tadpoles of two species of Gephyromantis, with a discussion of the phylogenetic origin of direct development in mantellid frogs. Zootaxa, 1401, 53–61.

    Randrianiaina, R.-D., Raharivololoniaina, L., Preuss, C., Strauß, A., Glaw, F., Teschke, M., Glos, J., Raminosoa, N. & Vences, M. (in press) Descriptions of the tadpoles of seven species of Malagasy treefrogs, genus Boophis. Zootaxa.

    Thomas, M., Raharivololoniaina, L., Glaw, F., Vences, M. & Vieites, R.D. (2005) Montane tadpoles in Madagascar: molecular identification and description of the larval stages of Mantidactylus elegans, Mantidactylus madecassus, and Boophis laurenti from the Andringita Massif. Copeia, 2005, 174–183.

    Vejarano, S., Thomas, M. & Vences, M. (2006) Comparative larval morphology in Madagascan frogs of the genus Guibemantis (Anura: Mantellidae). Zootaxa, 1329, 39–57.