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The tadpole of the toadlet Scaphiophryne marmorata from Madagascar

The genus Scaphiophryne Boulenger comprises eight species of microhylid toadlets (Vences et al. 2003; Glos et al. 2005), all of which are endemic to Madagascar. They are characterized by a unique larval morphology, intermediate between Orton's (1953) types II and IV (Blommers-Schlösser 1975; Wassersug 1984). Recently, Grosjean et al. (2007) provided a comparative study of larval morphology of the genus, and found evidence for two morphological subgroups based on larval characters. Tadpoles remained unknown for only two species, Scaphiophryne boribory Vences, Raxworthy, Nussbaum & Glaw, and S. marmorata Boulenger. Three tadpoles of S. marmorata were collected by M. Vences, H. Kurrer and L. du Preez on 7 February 2006 close to Andasibe (18°56′S/48°25′E, 915 m a.s.l.), in a large temporary pond of about 15 m diameter and maximum water depth of 1 m, at the edge of rainforest. They were found syntopically with larvae of Paradoxophyla palmata and Boophis pauliani. Identity of one of these specimens (ZSM 554/2008) was verified by DNA barcoding; the sequence of a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene has the Genbank accession number EU717878 and was identical to a sequence of an adult specimen from the same locality (accession AY834191). Vouchers were deposited in the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany (ZSM). We here provide a detailed description of these larvae, based mainly on one specimen at stage 39, ZSM 555/2008 (field number ZCMV 3602). Measurements were taken using a stereo microscope (Zeiss Stereo Discovery) using landmarks as in Grosjean et al. (2007). Total length (TL) 38.1 mm, body length (BL) 14.2 mm, maximum width of body (BW) 12.8 mm, maximum height of body (BH) 9.8 mm, maximum diameter of eye (ED) 1.5 mm, rostro-narial distance (RN) 2.8 mm, naro-pupilar distance (NP) 1.4 mm, internarial distance (NN) 1.3 mm, interpupilar distance (PP) 6.8 mm, distance from tip of snout to opening of spiracle (SS) 11.8 mm, tail muscle height (TMH) 4.0 mm, tail muscle width (TMW) 2.9 mm, maximum height of upper tail fin (UF) 4.2 mm, distance from snout to beginning of upper tail fin (SU) 12.8 mm, oral disc width (ODW) 4.1 mm. In dorsal view (Fig. 1A), body circular, widest at the level of gills, snout truncate. In profile, (Fig. 1B), body depressed, almost flat dorsally and ventrally, BW 127% of BH, highest at the level of the intestine, snout small and round. Eyes moderately small, ED 10.6% of BL, not bulging the epidermis being far from the underlying organs, not visible in ventral view, positioned posterodorsally and directed laterally. No pineal ocellus. Nares not open, positioned dorsally, closer to pupils than to snout, RN 197% of NP, very close to each other, NN 19% of PP; a transversal depression anterolaterally to each nare on the integument. Spiracle (not seen on this specimen, observed on the specimen at stage 40, ZSM 554/2008; field number ZCMV 3601) sinistral but very low, conical, moderately sized, entirely attached to body wall, inner wall absent, orientated slightly more posteriorly than posterodorsally, closer to end of body than to tip of snout, SS 83% of BL; spiracular opening elliptical elongate, situated closer to opening of vent tube than to the insertion of hindlimb. Tail musculature moderately weak, TMH 41% of BH, TMW 22% of BW, its maximal height reached at its beginning, gradually tapering, almost reaching tail tip. Upper tail fin high, convex on most part then abruptly decreasing to follow the caudal muscle near the extremity of the tail, not extending onto body, SU 90% of BL; lower tail fin moderate, straight but decreasing in height towards the tip of the tail; tail tip very fine and slightly curved downward. Anal tube large and short, medial, roughly conical, directed posteroventrally, posterior part linked to ventral tail fin, opening medial. Neither lateral line nor glands visible. Oral disc (Fig. 1C) in position and orientation subterminal, emargination very low, of moderate size, ODW 29% of BL and 32% of BW; lower labium triangular two submarginal papillae on the left side laterally to the lower beak, three on a line laterally on each side of the lower labium triangular. One row of marginal papillae (malformed; see Fig. 1); two round and short, submarginal papillae slightly smaller. No denticulate papillae. No keratodonts. Jaw sheaths of moderate breadth, white, very finely serrated, upper jaw sheath a large arch, lower jaw sheath semicircular.