Description of the tadpole of Telmatobius brevirostris (Anura: Ceratophryidae)

Abstract

In Peru most tadpoles of the aquatic frogs genus Telmatobius belong to the lentic or lotic benthic guild. Members of this guild have a labial tooth row formula (LTRF) of 2/3, dorsolateral eyes, relative depressed bodies, dorsal fin do not extend beyond tail-body junction and they inhabit non flowing systems or microhabitats of non flowing portions of lotic systems (Altig & Johnson 1989, Aguilar et al. 2007, Aguilar & Lehr 2009). Only one species, T. atahualpai Wiens, is known to have a lotic rheophilous larva because it has a large oral disc, LTRF of more than 2/3, complete marginal papillae, numerous submarginal papillae and it inhabits streams (Altig & Johnson 1989, Aguilar & Lehr 2009). However, of the 25 Telmatobius species present in the Peruvian Andes (Frost 2010), tadpoles of only 11 species (44%) have been described, including the recently described tadpole of Telmatobius mayoloi Salas and Sinsch (Aguilar & Lehr 2009). Telmatobius brevirostris Vellard is endemic to central Peru, Huánuco region, with an altitudinal distribution ranging from 2000 to 3600 m.a.s.l. (Lehr 2005). Data on adult morphology, tadpole habitat, oral cavity and chondrocranium were given by Lehr (2005) and Aguilar & Valencia (2009), but tadpoles were left undescribed. Herein we describe the tadpole of T. brevirostris.