Re-description of the larval external morphology of two species of the Leptodactylus fuscus group (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Abstract

The larvae of Leptodactylus gracilis (D'Orbigny y Bibron, 1840) and L. mystacinus Bumeister, 1861 are re-described and compared with previous descriptions noting intraspecific variation in oral disc characteristics (arrangement of papillae and rows of cornified teeth). The external morphological analysis of larvae of the Leptodactylus fuscus group suggest that the lack of comparable descriptions among species, as well as the lack of analyses of their intraspecific variation, limits the use of larval characteristics for diagnostic purposes.

Keywords

• Anura
• Leptodactylidae
• Leptodactylus gracilis
• Leptodactylus mystacinus
• Leptodactylus fuscus group
• tadpoles