­The tadpole of the stream treefrog Hyloscirtus antioquia (Anura: Hylidae: Cophomantini)

Abstract

We describe the larval morphology of the stream-dwelling tadpole of Hyloscirtus antioquia based on specimens from the type locality, Antioquia, Colombia. The larvae of H. antioquia (belong to the suctorial ecomorphological guild) show morphological characters commonly associated with lotic habitats, like a depressed body, low fins, long tail, well-developed tail musculature, and oral disc with many labial tooth rows. In addition, the larvae of H. antioquia have the anterior and posterior jaw sheath with small serrations and the inner margin of nostrils with one simple triangular fleshy projection. As in other cases in Hyloscirtus, the tadpole H. antioquia has a large saccular structure that encloses the vent tube, and partially covers the hindlimbs during their development, and also it has the ventrolateral, unpigmented spots in the region proximal to the vent tube. Finally, some aspects concerning the larvae of the tribe Cophomantini are discussed.