Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus SmiliscaDuellman, William Edward
Science
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Frogs; Smilisca
The eggs are deposited in loose clumps amidst vegetation in the water.
Hatchling tadpoles have total lengths of 8.7 to 10.6 mm., and body
lengths of 4.1 to 4.5 mm. The external gills are long and filamentous,
and the yolk sac is large. The head and caudal musculature are dark
brownish black, and the caudal fins are gray. The oral discs are large
and roughly circular. The growth and development of the tadpoles are
summarized in table 11 and figure 16.
A typical tadpole in stage 30 of development (KU 68482 from the Rio
Chitaria, Cartago Province, Costa Rica) may be described as follows:
body length 9.7 mm.; tail length 14.6 mm.; total length 24.3 mm.; body
as wide as deep; snout rounded dorsally and laterally; eyes widely
separated, directed dorsolaterally; nostril about midway between eye
and tip of snout; mouth anteroventral; spiracle sinistral, about midway
on length of body and slightly below midline; anal tube dextral; caudal
musculature slender, curved upward distally; dorsal fin extending onto
body; depth of dorsal fin slightly less than that of ventral fin at
mid-length of tail; dorsal part of body pale brown; ventral surfaces
transparent with scattered pigment; pale cream-colored, crescent-shaped
mark on posterior edge of body; caudal musculature pale creamy tan with
scattered pale brown spots; caudal fins transparent with scattered small
brown blotches on dorsal and ventral fins; iris pale bronze in life
(Fig. 13); mouth small; median part of upper lip bare; rest of mouth
bordered by one row of pointed papillae; lateral fold present;
tooth-rows 2/3, first upper row longest; second upper row slightly
shorter, broadly interrupted medially; three lower rows complete, equal
in length, slightly shorter than second upper row; upper beak moderately
deep, forming broad arch with slender lateral processes; lower beak
slender, broadly V-shaped; both beaks serrate (Fig. 15E).
In tadpoles having fully developed mouthparts the tooth-row formula of
2/3 is invariable. The pale crescent-shaped mark on the posterior part
of the body curves anterodorsally on the dorsal surface of the body.
These marks in dorsal view give the appearance of a pair of short, pale
stripes on the posterior part of the body. Most specimens from Costa
Rica have the pale coloration like that described above, but some
individuals (notable KU 87683 from Guapiles, Costa Rica, KU 87707 from
Finca Tepeyac, Nicaragua, and KU 87708 from Bonanza, Nicaragua) have
much more pigment. In these specimens the same color pattern obtains as
in the pallid individuals, but the pigmentation is dense. This is
especially noticeable on the tail.
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