Adenomera hylaedactyla (Cope, 1868)

Schiesari, Luis, Rossa-Feres, Denise De Cerqueira, Menin, Marcelo & Hödl, Walter, 2022, Tadpoles of Central Amazonia (Amphibia: Anura), Zootaxa 5223 (1), pp. 1-149 : 85-86

Adenomera hylaedactyla

External morphology. Description based on six tadpoles at Stage 35 (INPA-H 19793). Total length 14.1 ± 0.5 mm (N = 6). Body elongate oval in dorsal view and globular/depressed in lateral view ( Fig. 53A, B ). Snout truncate in dorsal and lateral views. Eyes small, positioned and directed laterally. Nostrils small, circular, laterally positioned near to snout, with opening anterolaterally directed, without a projection on the marginal rim. Oral disc ( Fig. 53C ) anteroventral, non-emarginate; marginal papillae elongate, uniseriate, with a wide dorsal gap and a ventral gap. Submarginal papillae absent. LTRF 0/0, with dermal ridges. Jaw sheaths narrow, finely serrated; anterior jaw sheath arch-shaped, posterior jaw sheath U-shaped. Spiracle absent. Vent tube medial, fused to the ventral fin, with a medial opening. Caudal musculature of moderate width; in lateral view gradually tapering to a pointed tip. Dorsal fin shallow, originating at the tail-body junction, convex; ventral fin shallow and convex. Tail tip pointed.

Colour. In preservative dorsum brown; venter whitish; caudal musculature and fins translucent whitish ( Menin et al. 2009b). In life dorsum dark brown; venter translucent yellow; fins translucent and caudal musculature whitish ( Menin et al. 2009b).

Metamorphs. Dorsum with scattered dark marks on a brown background; venter and throat white; iris bronze ( Lima et al. 2012).

Natural history. Eggs are deposited in a foam nest in underground chambers constructed by the males in open areas or in forest edge. Clutches contain from 8 to 9 unpigmented eggs ( Menin et al. 2009b). Endotrophic tadpoles complete development in the nest ( Menin et al. 2009b; Lima et al. 2012). Eggs are preyed upon by phorid fly larvae ( Menin et al. 2009b).

Comments. Tadpoles of A. hylaedactyla were described by Heyer & Silverstone (1969) from French Guiana. Heyer (1973) also characterized tadpoles of this species from several countries in northern South America, but without informing their locality. Menin et al. (2009b) analyzed ontogenetic variation of tadpoles from Central Amazon. No morphological variation was observed between these characterizations, and that herein presented.

Genus Leptodactylus . Tadpoles of genus Leptodactylus found in the Central Amazonia share the following combination of morphological characteristics: body ovoid or elongate oval in dorsal view and globular or globular/depressed in lateral view; spiracle sinistral; tail fins generally of moderate height; vent tube medial; oral disc anteroventral (ventral in L. riveroi ), with marginal papillae uniseriate or bisseriate and with a dorsal gap; LTRF derived from 2/3 (except L. pentadactylus ).

Figures

FIGURE 53. Tadpole of Adenomera hylaedactyla (INPA-H 19793) at Stage 35: (A) lateral view, (B) dorsal view (scale = 10 mm), and (C) oral disc (scale = 1 mm).