Tadpole morphology of the white-eyed toad Leptobrachium leucops Stuart, Rowley, Tran, Le & Hoang 2011 (Anura: Megophryidae) in Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong province

Abstract

We describe the tadpole morphology of the white-eyed megophryd, Leptobrachium leucops Stuart, Rowley, Tran, Le & Hoang 2011 based on specimens originating from Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. The description is based on larva in developmental stages 25 - 41, which were bred at the University of Science, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City. Tadpoles of Leptobrachium leucops live in slow-flowing water - benthic with the body color from brown-black to black. Body oval shape in lateral view, dorsolaterally positioned eyes. Spiracle sinistral and leftlateral positioned. Vent tube medially located at body end, ventrally positioned. Oral disk ventrally positioned and bordered by a papillae row, in general, the keratodont row formulae of the is 1(5+5)/(4+4)1. Body length and oral disk width increase during developmental stages while tooth density decreases gradually and disappeare at the stage of 41.