We describe the larval stages of two Malagasy frog species of the genus Gephyromantis, based on specimens identified by DNA barcoding. The tadpoles of Gephyromantis ambohitra are generalized stream-living Orton type IV type larvae with two lateral small constrictions of the body wall at the plane of spiracle. Gephyromantis pseudoasper tadpoles are characterized by totally keratinised jaw sheaths with hypertrophied indentation, a reduced number of labial tooth rows, enlarged papillae on the oral disc, and a yellowish coloration of the tip of the tail in life. The morphology of the tadpole of G. pseudoasper agrees with that of G. corvus, supporting the current placement of these two species in a subgenus Phylacomantis, and suggesting that the larvae of G. pseudoasper may also have carnivorous habits as known in G. corvus. Identifying the tadpole of Gephyromantis ambohitra challenges current assumptions of the evolution of different developmental modes in Gephyromantis, since this species is thought to be related to G. asper, a species of supposedly endotrophic direct development.

Zoologists have widely acknowledged the utility of classification systems for characterising variation in anuran egg and clutch types, tadpole morphotypes, embryonic and tadpole development, amplexus types and reproductive modes. These classification systems have facilitated unambiguous communication between researchers, often working in completely different fields (e.g. taxonomy, ecology, behaviour), as well as comparisons among studies. A syntactic system, classifying anuran call guilds, is so far lacking. Based on examination of the calls of 1253 anuran species we present a simple, easy to use dichotomous key and guild system for classifying anuran advertisement calls – the call type most frequently emitted by anurans and studied by researchers. The use of only three call elements, namely clearly-defined calls, notes, and pulses, plus presence or absence of frequency modulation, allows assigning all currently known anuran advertisement calls to one of eight distinct call guilds defined here. This novel toolkit will facilitate comparative studies across the many thousand anuran species, and may help to unravel drivers of anuran call evolution, and to identify ecological patterns at the level of acoustic communities.

We studied phylogenetic relationships among major clades in the tooth carps (Cyprinodontiformes) based on a concatenated DNA sequence alignment of two mitochondrial and three nuclear gene segments, totalling 2553 bp, in 66 ingroup terminals. The inferred tree supports monophyly of the major tooth carp subgroups, aplocheiloids and cyprinodontoids, and of several aplocheiloid subclades corresponding to the well-established families (Aplocheilidae, Nothobranchiidae, Rivulidae), each of which is restricted to major continental settings (India-Madagascar, Africa, South America). Contrary to previous molecular studies, our tree supports a sister-group relationship of the aplocheilids and nothobranchiids, rather than a nothobranchiid-rivulid clade. Within cyprinodontoids, the phylogeny matched more closely continent-scale distribution than current classification, suggesting that the delimitation of the families Cyprinodontidae, Poeciliidae, and Valenciidae is in need of revision. The East African Pantanodon stuhlmanni did not show close relationships with any other taxon in our analysis, suggesting that the phylogenetic position and classification of this rogue taxon is in need of further study.

We describe and compare the tadpole morphology of nine species of frogs of the endemic Madagascan genus Mantella based upon specimens identified through DNA barcoding or captive bred. The tadpole morphology of M. crocea/ milotympanum-hybrids, M. madagascariensis, M. pulchra, M. viridis, M. baroni, M. bernhardi and M. betsileo is described for the first time. In general, Mantella have small and generalized tadpoles with a uniform dark colouration. The oral disc is elliptical, emarginated, and positioned anteroventrally. In M. laevigata the oral disc is rounded, not emarginated, and positioned ventrally; eyes are positioned and directed dorsally, while in other species they are directed dorsolaterally. Labial tooth row formulas of Mantella tadpoles differ among some species, and in M. aurantiaca and M. crocea/milotympanum they also show intraspecific variation. Species identification is difficult when considering only morphometric variables. Tadpoles within each species group of the genus do not cluster together (except for some clustering of species belonging to the M. madagascariensis group), confirming that the larval morphology in closely related Mantella species is not suitable for determining phylogenetic relationships. Mantella laevigata, distinguished by tree-hole breeding and parental care, shows the most distinguished larval morphology.

No abstract