Leptodactylodon cf. polyacanthus punctiventris Amiet, 1971

Mapouyat, Lissa, Hirschfeld, Mareike, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Liedtke, H. Christoph, Loader, Simon P., Gonwouo, L. Nono, Dahmen, Matthias, Doherty-Bone, Thomas M. & Barej, Michael F., 2014, The tadpoles of nine Cameroonian Leptodactylodon species (Amphibia, Anura, Arthroleptidae), Zootaxa 3765 (1), pp. 29-53 : 42-43

Leptodactylodon cf. polyacanthus punctiventris Amiet, 1971

Three tadpoles from Fotabong were tentatively assigned to L. polyacanthus punctiventris based on known amphibian assemblages from that area (e.g. Amiet 1980). One specimen was genotyped: ZMB 78551 (three tadpoles, Gosner stage 25, Fotabong, 5°28’54”N, 9°55’26.58”E, 1197 m, 1 November 2011). The tadpoles were collected from shallow, sandy streams at 1997 m.

The description is based on the genotyped individual (Gosner stage 25). Body length/total length ratio and description of tail tips was based on non-genotyped specimens of the same developmental stage.

Morphology. Long and slender tadpole with long, muscular tail (non-genotyped tadpoles not as slender as drawn in Fig. 12 a, b); body elliptical in dorsal and depressed in lateral view; body length 27.5–29.3% (N= 2) of total length; body height 37.2% of body length, body width 46.3% of body length, maximum body width on level of spiracle insertion; snout nearly rounded in dorsal view; nostrils oval and situated laterally; nostrils equidistant from eye and snout tip; eye diameter 9.9% of body length; inter-orbital distance equals inter-nostril distance; tail fins narrow, dorsal fin originating 4.6 mm anterior to tail base, reaching deepest point in first third of tail, slightly deeper than ventral fin; ventral fin originates at tail base, runs parallel to tail axis; tail tip rounded to slightly pointed; tail axis broad, continuously converging towards tail tip; maximum height of tail axis 57.0–60.5% (N= 2) of total tail height; vent tube dextral; lateral sacs present, extending from spiracle to end of body, covering lower two thirds of flanks; very short spiracle, sinistral, translucent, opening lateral, not visible in dorsal view, originating at mid-body; mouth opening frontal; labial tooth row formula 0/0; both jaw sheaths completely keratinized, strongly serrated, each with lateral pair of caniniform projections (fangs); median part of lower jaw with six to seven needle-like cusps ( Fig. 12 d); three distinct serrations abaxial to fangs; upper jaw narrow and long, lower jaw shorter; large, broad bilobate posterior lip covered with 21 large papillae ( Fig. 12 c); papillae arranged symmetrically along in vertical body axis; papillae arranged in two semicircular rows; almost straight skin fold on lower lip, just posterior to lower jaw sheath; oral disc width 39.7% of body length; mouth width 25.0% of oral disc width.

The two individuals with intact tails (both Gosner stage 25) had total lengths of 39.6 and 43.6 mm, respectively (body length: 11.6 & 12.0 mm; tail length: 28.0 & 31.6 mm). Metamorphs measure about 14 mm SVL ( Amiet 1980).

Coloration in preservation. Body and tail light brown, mottled with bigger and smaller dark spots and speckles on dorsal part of body and tail; anterior half of tail axis with median, longitudinal dark line (not visible in life); venter lighter with fewer dark patterns; fins translucent cream-white.

Coloration in life. Light brown with light to dark brown speckles; dark line from snout tip to anterior corner of eye; anterior part of tail axis with white spots, posterior part with black dots; fins light with dark spots, posterior part almost white; venter lighter ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Life coloration of Leptodactylodon tadpoles, from top to bottom: L. cf. polyacanthus punctiventris (ZMB 78551, Fotabong), L. boulengeri (ZMB 78471, Fotabong), L. ventrimarmoratus (ZMB 78554, Mt. Kala); pictures not to scale.

FIGURE 12. Dorsal (a) and lateral view (b) of Leptodactylodon cf. polyacanthus punctiventris with sketches of mouthpart in frontal view (c) and jaw sheaths with caniniform projections (d); scale bars: 1 mm.