Boophis guibei

(Figure 7)

The following description refers to one tadpole in developmental stage 36 (field number FG/MV 2003-2018, ZSM 1609/2004, TL 38 mm, BL 15 mm) from Ranomafana National Park. The 16S rDNA sequence of one specimen from the same batch differed in 18 substitutions over an alignment of 512 bp from a reference sequence of an adult specimen that originated from another locality near Ranomafana (accession AY848480).

In dorsal view body ovoid. In lateral view body depressed, snout almost uniformly curved, BW 115% of BH. Moderately large eyes, ED 12% of BL, positioned dorsally, directed laterally, situated at the anterior 1/3 of the body. Nares elliptical, prominent with marginal rim, positioned dorsolaterally, oriented anterolaterally, much closer to snout than to eyes, RN 58% of NP and NN 42% of PP. Wide and short sinistral spiracle, inner wall free and formed such that the aperture opens laterally instead of posteriorly not visible from dorsal view. The ellipical opening is situated close to the origin of the lower part of the tail musculature and oriented posterodorsally, the aperture is closer to end of body than to snout, SS 57% of BL. Dextral vent tube, the aperture is under a flap. Strong caudal musculature in the anterior half, TMH 54% of BH and TMW 45% of BW. Dorsal fin higher than ventral fin. At midlength of tail, caudal musculature represents about ¼ of total tail height. Dorsal fin origins before the tail body junction and ventral fin originnates at the ventral terminus of the body.

Oral disk moderately large, ODW 24% of BL and 36% of BW, positioned ventrally and directed anteroventrally, emarginated. One row of marginal papillae that is interrupted along by a large gap on the upper labium (DG 69% of ODW); a total of 102 marginal papillae, density 18 papillae/mm, 34 submarginal papillae positioned in the lateral parts of the anterior and posterior labium (19 on the left side and 17 on the right side. Papillae of moderate size, round or conical with rounded tips. LTRF 1:5+5/1+1:3 after Dubois (1995) and 6(2–6)/3(1) after Altig & McDiarmid (1999). A2 has 58 keratodonts/mm (a total of 217 keratodonts), A1 has a total of 238 keratodonts (88 keratodonts/mm). Jaw sheaths partially pigmented and coarsely serrated, serrations rounded. Upper jaw sheath M-shaped, lower jaw sheath V-shaped.

Coloration in preservation. Dorsally: small brown patches between the nares and at the beginning of the caudal musculature. The patches are condensed around and between the eyes. In lateral view, half-moon shaped brown patches behind the eye. Intestinal coils visible in ventral and lateral view, regularly spiralshaped. Some brown dots on dorsal and ventral fin.

Variation: TL and BL of five tadpoles at stages 25–42 are 19–38 mm and 10–15 mm, respectively. BW 113–122% of BH; ED 9–22% of BL; RN 83–181% of NP; NN 39–50% of PP; TMH 48–79% of BH; TMW 35–83% of BW; ODW 23–28% of BL; ODW 33–41% of BW; SS 40–61% of BL; TMH 45–62% of MTH; MTH 104–120% of BH.