46 | 11| -- |12.7-16.7 (14.26) | -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 12.--Growth and Development of Tadpoles of Smilisca sordida. (Means Are Given in Parentheses After the Observed Ranges.) =======+===+==================+==================+================= Stage | N | Total length | Body length | Tail length -------+---+------------------+------------------+----------------- 25 | 6 | 25.5-28.0 (26.1) | 9.0-9.5 (9.3) | 16.2-18.5 (16.7) 33 | 2 | 28.5-30.0 (29.3) | 10.2-10.5 (10.4) | 18.0-19.8 (18.9) 36 | 8 | 29.5-34.5 (32.3) | 10.2-11.7 (10.8) | 19.3-23.0 (21.5) 37 | 7 | 31.6-37.5 (34.6) | 11.0-12.5 (11.5) | 21.6-25.0 (23.2) 41 | 3 | 33.0-37.2 (35.2) | 11.6-12.2 (11.9) | 21.4-25.2 (23.2) 43 | 1 | ---- | 12.4 | ---- 46 | 9 | ---- | 13.1-15.7 (14.9) | ---- -------+---+------------------+------------------+----------------- _Stages 34_, _36_, _37_, and _38_.--Stage 34, foot paddle-shaped with four toe buds; stage 36, five toe buds; stages 37 and 38, lengthening of toes. In all four stages, spiracle persistent, and pigmentation resembling that of early stages. _Stage 39._--Metatarsal tubercle present; greatest total length (36.9 mm.) attained. _Stage 40._--Subarticular tubercles prominent; skin over forelimbs transparent; cloacal tail-piece and spiracle absent; outer tooth-rows degenerating; caudal fins shallower than in preceding stages; distal part of tail nearly straight; size of dark markings on tail decreased; pigment present on hind limb. _Stage 43._--Forelimbs erupted; larval mouthparts absent; corner of mouth between nostril and eye; transverse bands present on hind limbs; tail greatly reduced (about 8 mm. in length). _Stage 44._--Sacral hump barely noticeable; tail reduced to a stub; corner of mouth at level of pupil of eye; dorsal surfaces pale olive-green; venter white. Changes proceed in a definite pattern during the growth and development of tadpoles. Larval teeth are absent in hatchlings; the inner tooth-rows develop first, and the third lower row last. At metamorphosis the third lower row is the first to be lost. The tail increases gradually in length relative to the body. In stage 25 the tail is 52.1 per cent of the total length, and in stage 36, 64.6 per cent. In later stages the tail becomes relatively shorter through resorption. Duellman and Klaas (1964:320) noted a great size-variation in _Triprion_ tadpoles in stage 25. No such variation is apparent in any stage of any of the species of _Smilisca_ studied.