A Key To The Tadpoles of The Continental
A Key To The Tadpoles of The Continental
A Key To The Tadpoles of The Continental
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RONALD ALTIG
TL
BL
MH
SP TH
FIC. 1.-Left lateral view of a typical tadpole. BL, body length; MH,
musculatureheight; SP, spiracle, TH, tail height; TL, total length.
A-2 gap
Al~~~~U
p
57
P1 ,,,::::4:,,.P21
Od
FIG.2.-Schematic drawingof tadpolemouthparts.The left side is emar-
ginate,the right not emarginate.Al, anteriorlabium;A-1, first anteriortooth
row;A-2, secondanteriortoothrow;Lj, lowerjaw;Lp, lateralprocessof upper
jaw; Mo, mouth;Mp, marginalpapilla;Od, oral disc; P1, posteriorlabium;
P-1,firstposteriortoothrow;P-2, secondposteriortoothrow;P-3, thirdposterior
toothrow; Sp, submarginal papilla;Uj, upperjaw.
(P) labium. Letter abbreviations plus row numbers (e.g., A-1, P-3)
reduce confusion. The fraction is written in line with the rows with
median gaps in parentheses. A range in the number of rows is
hyphenated, and variability in the presence of a median gap is
indicated by brackets. For exampile, the formula 2(2)/3-4[1] indi-
cates a tadpole with two rows on the anterior labium, the second
with a median gap, and three or four rows on the posterior labium,
the first with or without a median gap. On the anterior labium,
typically the more central rows vary in occurrence, whereas on the
posterior labium the more peripheral rows usually vary in occur-
rence. This generality, especially concerning the posterior labium,
does not always apply to tadpoles with a tooth row formula of %/4
or larger. Extraneous teeth may occur anywhere on the labia.
Although a formula for the actual number of teeth per row
(Noble and Noble, 1923) is essentially useless because of ontoge-
netic and individual variation in row length, the number of teeth
per unit length suggests size and spacing of labial teeth. Gosner
(1959) presented taxonomic characters of individual teeth.
Characteristics of pigmentation are limited primarily to melanic
patterns that persist in preservative, although live color patterns that
disappear soon in preservative are mentioned if important. The
distinction of dermal and subdermal pigmentation is useful because
tion. In any group there are individuals that will not key correctly,
and tadpoles will certainly be no exception; subjectivity cannot be
avoided. Bufo and Pseudacris are the most difficult.
Specimens of all but 6 species were examined; specimens of 40
species were seen alive. Generic synopses and a bibliography con-
cerning identification of tadpoles in the United States and Canada
follow the key.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank the following persons and institutions for the loan or
donation of specimens: R. G. Zweifel, American Museum of Natural
History; R. H. Mount and G. W. Folkerts, Auburn University; A. E.
Sanders, Charleston Museum; J. H. Harrison, College of Charleston;
F. H. Pough, Cornell University; E. D. Brodie, Jr., Clemson Univer-
sity; H. Marx, Field Museum of Natural History; H. M. Stevenson,
Florida State University; P. W. Smith, Illinois Natural History
Survey; C. E. Nelson, Indiana University; J. W. Wright, Los Angeles
County Museum of Natural History; R. C. Stebbins, Museum of
Vertebrate Zoology; G. R. Zug, United States National Museum;
K. L. Gosner, Newark Museum; R. S. Funk, Northern Arizona Uni-
versity; R. M. Storm, Oregon State University; J. W. Gibbons,
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; R. A. Brandon, Southern
Illinois University; C. J. May, Tucson, Arizona; H. A. Dundee,
Tulane University; H. Harima, University of Alabama; T. P. Maslin
and H. M. Smith, University of Colorado; K. R. Porter, University
of Denver; W. J. Auffenberg, University of Florida; C. F. Walker,
University of Michigan; D. E. Metter, University of Missouri; J. H.
Black, University of Oklahoma; C. R. Shoop, University of Rhode
Island; D. B. Ralin, University of Texas; J. M. Legler, University of
Utah; S. Hedeen, Xavier University.
Numerous specimens were collected while the author was a
visiting summer faculty member at the Savannah River Ecology
Laboratory under Division of Nuclear Education and Training funds
[AT(38-1)-310] to the University of Georgia.
Also, I thank E. D. Brodie, Jr., G. H. Clemmer and J. L. Wolfe
for reading parts of the manuscript. Dianne M. Brodie prepared
the figures and Waanda B. Lee typed the manuscript.
GLOSSARY
A-1-an abbreviation for first anteriortooth row; A (anterior)and a number
designatea row on the anteriorlabium. (= upperfringe, outer row on
upperlabium,first upperor anteriorrow.)
A-2 gap-median gap in row A-2. (= medianinterval,medianspace.)
A-2 gap ratio-the A-2 gap ratioequalsthe lengthof one sectionof A-2/width
of the gap betweenthe two sections,regardlesswhichis larger. A number
of 1 or largerindicatesa gap that is equal to or smallerthan the lateral
sections,and a numbersmallerthan1 indicatesa gap widerthanthe lateral
sections. Used in contrastto Wrightand Wright'smethodof alternately
dividingor multiplyingdependingon the widthof the gap.
Amphigyrinid-condition of having dual, lateralspiracles.
*
*/ 4fX\
FIG. 3.-Eye and anus positions: (A) Hyki versicolor, lateral eyes, (B)
Scaphsopus holbrooki dorsal eyes, (C) Leptodactylus labwlis, medial anus,
( D) Rana catesb na, dextral anus.
22. Jaws wide; upper jaw angulate; dorsal fin high, terminating
anterior to spiracle; body compressed slightly; to 55 mm
total length; tail clear, black or mottled; Coastal Plain
from North Carolina to Mississippi River -23
Jaws narrow to medium; upper jaw not angulate; dorsal fin
high or not; tail clear or blotched; never to 55 mm total
length; widespread -24
23. Total length less than 30 mm.;fins clear; light stripe extends
from tail musculature forward to eye; dorsum of tail
musculature with a black saddle slightly anterior to mid-
length -Hyla gratiosa (part)
Total length more than 30 mm; fins clear, black or mottled;
stripe from tail to eye absent; black saddle on tail mus-
culature absent -Hyla gratiosa (part)
24. Fins and tail musculature typically mottled or reticulated
without a clear area near musculature; A-2 gap ratio 3 or
more; light orbitonasal stripe present at least in life;
small specimens with two light body blotches that form
an incomplete transverse body band (usually lost in
preservative); dorsal fin equals ventral; Coastal Plain
from Delaware to central Texas and north along the
Mississippi River to southern Illinois -Hyla cinerea
Fins not mottled or reticulated, sometimes blotched; if
blotched, a clear area present near musculature; A-2 gap
ratio 3 or less; light orbitonasal stripe absent; light body
blotches absent; dorsal fin variable; widespread -25
25. Fins commonly blotched with a clear area remaining near
musculature; tail musculature mottled; dorsal fin higher
than ventral; P-3 very short; widespread
-------------------------------------------Hyla crucifer (part)
SYNOPSES
Ascaphus.-Oral disc present and emarginate; jaws unequal,
serrate and with keratinized sheaths; upper jaw plate-like, large,
without lateral processes and sometimes divided medially; lower
jaw small to absent, not in occlusion with upper jaw; labial tooth
row formula 2-3/10-12(1); some tooth rows biserial; labial teeth
non-denticulate; numerous submarginal papillae; spiracle single,
midventral and nearer mouth than anus; anus medial; eyes dorsal;
anal flap present; external nares large and tubular; mouth ventral;
tail fin low; body depressed; darkly pigmented; mountain streams
of northwestern United States; 1 species.
Rhinophrynus.--Oral disc absent; jaws without keratinized
sheaths; upper lip without a median notch; oral barbels present;
spiracles dual, lateral, and near longitudinal axis; nostrils present
throughout development; anus medial; eyes lateral; anal flap absent;
external nares not tubular; mouth terminal; tail fin medium; body
depressed; lightly pigmented; southern Texas; 1 species.
Scaphiopus.-Oral disc present and not emarginate; jaws serrate,
subequal and with keratinized sheaths; lateral processes of upper
jaw medium; lower jaw striated; labial tooth row formula 2-6 (2-6) /
3-6(1-3); tooth rows uniserial; labial teeth commonly non-denticu-
late; papillary border complete or with narrow dorsal gap; sub-
marginal papillae present; spiracle single, sinistral and below longi-
tudinal axis; anus medial; eyes dorsal; external nares not tubular;
anal flap absent; body globular or depressed; tail fin moderate;
eastern and southwestern states; 2 species.
Spea.-Oral disc present and not emarginate; jaws serrate, sub-
equal and with keratinized sheaths; lateral processes of upper jaw
short; lower jaw not striated; upper jaw frequently cuspate, if so,
lower jaw deeply notched; labial tooth row formula 2-6(3-6)/4-6
(2-6); tooth rows uniserial;labial teeth commonlynon-denticulate;
papillary border complete or with narrow dorsal gap; submarginal
papillae few to absent; spiracle single, sinistral and below longi-
tudinal axis; body somewhat depressed; anus medial; eyes dorsal;
external nares not tubular; anal flap absent; tail fin moderate;
Missouri and westward; 3 species.
Rana.-Oral disc present and emarginate; jaws serrate, subequal
and with keratinized sheaths; lateral processes of upper jaw short
to medium; labial tooth row formula 1-7(2-7)/2-6[1]; tooth rows
uniserial; labial teeth commonly denticulate; A-2 gap typically wide;
papillary border with wide dorsal gap; submarginal papillae com-
mon; spiracle single, sinistral and near longitudinal axis; body
globular or slightly depressed; anus dextral; eyes dorsal; external
nares not tubular; anal flap absent; tail fin low to high; widespread;
17 species.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BABBITT, L. H. 1937. The Amphibia of Connecticut. Connecticut State
Geol. Natur. Hist. Sur. Bull. 57:1-50.
BLAIR, W. F., A. P. BLAIR, P. BRODKORB, F. R. CAGLE, AND G. A. MOORE.