Hylomantis granulosa, (Cruz, 1989) (Cruz, 1989)

Nascimento, Filipe Augusto Cavalcanti Do & Skuk, Gabriel Omar, 2007, Description of the tadpole of Hylomantis granulosa (Anura: Hylidae), Zootaxa 1663 (1), pp. 59-65 : 60-61

Results

Description. Tadpole at stage 36 (MUFAL 3780, figs. 1 and 2 ). Body ovoid in lateral view and elliptic both in dorsal and ventral view, representing about 35.4% of the total length, with maximum width somewhat ahead of the eyes and maximum height at the junction of the body with the tail. Snout rounded in dorsal view and slightly arched in lateral view. Eyes large and placed laterally, located immediately above the midline of the body; representing about 32.8% of the interorbital distance and 15.2% of the body length. Nostrils ovoid, dorsolaterally located, with external openings directed anterolaterally; situated closer to snout than eyes; internostril distance approximately 51.6% of the interorbital distance. Spiracle ventral, with inner wall absent and opening elliptical directed backward, located in the left side near the transversal midline. Anal tube short, dextral, and free of the ventral fin, with opening posteroventral. Oral disc large and terminal, representing 53.5% of the body width, with a small median emargination in the lower labium. A single row of marginal papillae, absent in the upper labium, except for an isolated group of five papillae on the left side; papillae large, conic and distinct; scattered submarginal papillae on lateral and posterior portions. Labial tooth row formula 2(2)/ 3(1). A-1 interrupted medially by a short gap approximately eight teeth wide. P-1 with a medial gap still smaller. P-1 and P-2 almost continuous in the right extremity. Jaw sheaths pigmented and finely serrated; upper jaw convex medially; lower jaw V-open shaped. Caudal musculature well developed, becoming progressively thinner caudally. Myosepta partially visible until the first half of the tail. Tail and body with equal heights. Dorsal fin lower than ventral fin; dorsal fin weakly convex, beginning at the first third of the tail; ventral fin beginning near the body; ventral fin depth approximately twice the depth of the dorsal fin, narrowing at the tip of the tail. Caudal tip ending in a flagellum. For measurements see table 1 .

Coloration. In life, dorsum, lateral surface of the body, and first half of the caudal musculature yellowish brown; dorsum with a great concentration of black spots, scattered in the back of the tail where become grayish-brown; ventral surface silver. Fins and final half of the caudal musculature transparent with small black punctuations in the middle of the tail. Members and anal tube following the coloration of the body. In preservative, body and caudal musculature become whitish; the black spots appear clearer; the ventral surface becomes dark with the intestine partially visible; fins remain transparent.

Variation. In the analyzed stages (26, 28, 30, 36, and 39) the tadpoles showed some variation in the oral disc configuration. The position of the submarginal papillae varied among the individuals, and the number of marginal papillae of the upper labium varied from an isolated group of five papillae to an almost complete row, with a median gap ( fig. 3 ).

Remarks. At the stage 41 the spiracle and the anal tube disappear, the internostril distance decreases considerably, the anterior limbs begins to appear, and the dorsal coloration and granulations of the adult begin to predominate. Both A-1 and A-2 disappear and remain only vestiges of P-3.

Two specimens that completed metamorphosis showed an SVL (snout-vent length) of 14.70 mm (MUFAL 2762) and 19.28 mm (MUFAL 2763); the coloration was the same as in the adults (see Cruz, 1988).

Habits and habitat. Mata do Catolé is a remnant of the Atlantic Rain Forest situated in bioclimate region with zero to ninety days biologically dry biologically ( Assis, 2000). The tadpoles of Hylomantis granulosa were found inside the forest, in a ditch of about 3 m depth, which in the bottom had a small puddle filled with rain water, approximately 60 cm deep. The tadpoles are nektonic and many individuals were observed near the surface of the water. They stayed suspended in an oblique position relative to the water surface, with the tip of the tail moving. In the same puddle we also observed tadpoles of Dendropsophus gr. microcephalus (Cope) and Leptodactylus vastus Lutz.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tadpole of Hylomantis granulosa (MUFAL 3780) at stage 36 (Gosner, 1960): (A) lateral view; (B) dorsal view; (C) ventral view (scale = 6 mm).

FIGURE 2. Tadpole of Hylomantis granulosa (MUFAL 3780) at stage 36 (Gosner, 1960): (A) oral disc (scale = 2 mm); (B) dorsal view, showing the open nares; (C) ventral view, showing the spiracle and the anal tube (scale = 6 mm).

FIGURE 3. Upper labium of the oral disc of Hylomantis granulosa (MUFAL 3780) showing an almost complete row of marginal papillae, with a median gap (scale = 2 mm).