Zhangixalus smaragdinus ( Blyth, 1852 )

S30. Zhangixalus smaragdinus ( Blyth, 1852) View in CoL ( fig. 61‒62 View Figure 61 View Figure 62 )

Larval series examined. WT 130.5611( Mawblang , Cheerapunji, Meghalaya, India; 25.35453 N, 91.74230 E). Tadpoles of the species were collected in a pool that was one foot deep. The location of the pool was on a hill plateau at an elevation of more than 1000 m.a.s.l. Its substratum was sandy with emergent vegetation and algal growth GoogleMaps .

Notes. Partial sequence of 16S rRNA (OQ079500) generated from the above tadpole voucher showed 2 % sequence divergence compared to the published Genbank sequence ( JX 219411 View Materials ) from a taxonomically identified specimen of Rhacophorus maximus . However, following the recent taxonomic revision of the group, the species was synonymized with Zhangixalus smaragdinus . Morphological descriptions for larval forms of this species were made by McCann (1932), Anders (2002) and Khongwir et al. (2003). The current description of tadpoles is from specimens collected close to the type locality of the species. However, the taxonomic identities of tadpoles described earlier need verification.

External morphology. Description of a tadpole at Gosner stage 36. Body ovoid and globular in dorsal and lateral perspectives ( fig. 61 View Figure 61 a-b). Body length 37.3 % of total length; maximum body width at centre of the abdomen. Eyes large, located and oriented dorsolaterally; distance between eye and nostril 45.9 % of distance between eye and snout. Opening of nostril bean-shaped and placed dorsolaterally, closer to eye than to snout; rim of opening elevated; inter-narial distance 58.6 % of inter-orbital distance; distance between nostril and snout 13.6 % of body length. Spiracle sinistral; inner wall of tube completely formed but attached to body wall. Distance between spiracle and snout 67.1 % of body length. Vent tube dextral in opening. Tail tip rounded; musculature linear till mid length of tail, tapering beyond; dorsal fin and ventral fin of equal height; maximum tail height at about mid-length; dorsal fin originating at junction between body and tail, ventral fin originating at ventral terminus. Height of tail muscle 1.47 times width of tail muscle at tail-body junction. Tail (caudal) musculature accounting for 36.9 % of height of tail. Lateral line visible. Glands absent on outer integument.

Oral disc anteroventral in location ( fig. 61c View Figure 61 ). Rostral width of oral disc 30.2 % of maximum body width. Labium not entire (emarginated) and bifurcated at lateral commissures. Labial tooth row formula A5(2‒5)/P3(1); one row of upper labium (A1) continuous and rest bifurcated (A2 to A5); length of each row in descending order from A1 to A5; lower labium comprising three labial tooth rows including P1 marginally divided; length of both P1 and P2 rows equal and P3 smallest; labial tooth rows single. Single row of marginal papillae on both labia; marginal papillae broadly interrupted on both labia medially; papillae on upper labium restricted to lateral commissures. Two to three rows of submarginal papillae at lateral commissures and a single row below P3 labial tooth row. Upper jaw sheath moderately keratinized while lower jaw sheath heavily keratinized; Jaw sheaths margins uniformly serrated with small fine serrations.

Measurements of 32 tadpoles at various Gosner stages (26‒31, 36‒42) are given in tab. 29 View Table 29 .

Coloration. In life, dorsal body black and ventral side dirty white; both dorsal and ventral sides of body dotted with several tiny melanophores; Ventral integument transparent with gut coils visible. Both fins transparent and dotted evenly with several tiny melanophores.

Buccopharyngeal morphology. Buccal roof ( fig. 62a‒b View Figure 62 ). Prenarial arena of roof with six pustules arranged in arched formation; median pair of pustules larger than other pustules. Internal nares transverse, oriented medially; gap between both nares wide, about 2/3 of length of nare; anterior narial wall pustulose with many tiny pustules; a tall, pustulated papilla located at lateral corner of wall, posterior wall tall, smooth and valvular without pustules. Postnarial arena with two tall, conical and pustulated papillae, present behind posterior narial wall and oriented medially; both papillae of equal height; a small pustule located in front of median ridge papilla. Median ridge papilla triangular and pustulated. A small pustulated lateral ridge papilla perpendicular to median ridge. BRA demarcated with five pairs of long pustulated papillae on lateral border of the roof; about 30 tiny pustules spread across BRA. Glandular zone thick and prominent with many secretory pits. Dorsal velum moderately tall and continuous with a rugose margin.

Buccal floor ( fig. 62c‒d View Figure 62 ). Prelingual arena composed of three palps located on each side of posterolateral corner of jaw sheath; size of palps following an ascending order, with anterior palp being smallest; all palps pustulated; posterior palp bifid with anterior projection being larger; three tiny pustules located at anterolateral corners of jaw sheath; pair of pustulated papillae located posteromedially on the jaw sheath. Tongue anlage round and raised; two to three smooth lingual papillae with pustules present medially. BFA well defined with eight BFA papillae on each side; anterior region of BFA smooth; eight BFA beginning from middle of BFA and passing posterolateral; all papillae curved, pustulated and of equal size; BFA with about 14‒16 pustules; 12 pustules in region between tongue anlage and buccal pockets; buccal pockets opening narrow and transversely arranged; a small buccal pocket papilla present. Region between BFA and margin of ventral velum with about 12 postulations; ventral velum wide and sinuate with 12 projections; six projections concentrated at the centre; outer three projections on either side widely placed apart; median notch not prominent; outer margin smooth. Glottis exposed posterior to ventral velum.

Denticles ( fig. 62e View Figure 62 ) moderately spaced between one another. Oral angle obtuse; sheath narrow followed by slightly broader body; tip of head broadly curved; 14‒18 moderately curved cusps on each denticle.

Each serration ( fig. 62f View Figure 62 ) on jaw sheath with a wide base and triangular head.