Anomaloglossus stepheni (Martins, 1989)

Schiesari, Luis, Rossa-Feres, Denise De Cerqueira, Menin, Marcelo & Hödl, Walter, 2022, Tadpoles of Central Amazonia (Amphibia: Anura), Zootaxa 5223 (1), pp. 1-149 : 27-28

Anomaloglossus stepheni

External morphology. Description based on four tadpoles between Stages 31 and 37 (LCS 707). Total length 12.3 and 13.3 mm (N = 2 tadpoles at Stage 37). Body ovoid in dorsal view and globular/depressed in lateral view ( Fig. 6A, B ). Snout truncated in both dorsal and lateral views. Eyes small, laterally positioned and directed. Nostrils small, oval, anterolaterally positioned closer to snout than to eyes, with opening anterolaterally directed, without a projection on the marginal rim. Oral disc reduced, with rudimentary lips; oral opening ( Fig. 6C ) ventral. LTRF 0/0. Spiracle absent. Vent tube short, 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 and parallel to the ventral margin of caudal musculature, originating at the tail-body junction; ventral fin shallow and convex. Tail tip rounded.

Colour. In preservative, body and tail light brown to brown, venter paler, digestive tract not visible; tail fins translucent; very conspicuous blood vessel irrigation of cream-colored belly visible dorsally, laterally and ventrally in tadpoles around Stages 31 and 32.

Metamorphs. Dorsum light brown; dark brown stripes from snout to posterior region of the eyes; belly whitish ( Lima et al. 2012).

Natural history. Three to six pigmented eggs are deposited in the terra-firme forest floor in rolled or doubled fallen leaves ( Juncá 1998). Tadpoles are endotrophic and complete development in the nest ( Juncá 1998). Eggs and/or larvae of A. stepheni are prey to spiders, cockroaches, and the lizards Leposoma guianense and Chatogekko amazonicus ( Juncá 1996) .

Comments. Tadpoles previously described from Central Amazonia by Juncá et al. (1994) differ from those herein characterized by presenting spiracle sinistral and vent tube medial, although an actual aperture could not be seen ( Juncá et al. 1994).

BUFONIDAE . Tadpoles of the bufonid species occurring in Central Amazonia share the following combination of morphological characteristics: tadpoles and metamorphs small; body oval or ovoid in dorsal view and globular/depressed in lateral view; body length similar to tail length; spiracle sinistral; tail fins of moderate height; dorsal fin convex; ventral fin parallel or convex, never extending onto body; tail tip rounded; vent tube medial, with a medial opening; oral disc with one row of marginal papillae, with wide dorsal and ventral gaps (in all species but Atelopus , that presents a continuous marginal papillae in anterior labium and a ventral gap); LTRF 2/3.

Genus Amazophrynella . Only one species of Amazophrynella is found in Central Amazonia.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Tadpole of Anomaloglossus stepheni (LCS 707) at Stage 36: (A) lateral view, (B) dorsal view (scale = 10 mm), and (C) oral disc (scale = 1 mm).