Leptodactylodon bicolor

Leptodactylodon bicolor Amiet, 1971

We examined nine tadpoles from several sites on Mount Manengouba and the South-West Province of Cameroon: ZMB 78452 (four tadpoles, Gosner stages 25–26, Ebonemin, 5°1’27.6”N, 9°45’53.2”E, 1417 m, 15 August 2011); ZMB 78453 (one tadpole, Gosner stage 26, Nkikoh, 5°5’26.34”N, 9°48’24.36”E, 1319 m, 5 December 2010); ZMB 78457 (one tadpole Gosner stage 25, Pola, 5°3’26.6”N, 9°50’10.2”E, 1788 m, 20 October 2011); ZMB 78458 (two tadpoles, Gosner stages 25–26, Pola, 5°3’27.9”N, 9°49’39”E, 1719 m, 20 October 2011); ZMB 78461 (one tadpole, Gosner stage 35, Fotabong, 5°28’46.44”N, 9°55’53.22”E, 1221 m, 1 November 2011). The tadpoles were all found in small to medium-sized streams with farmbush vegetation on river banks (Fig. 2). They inhabited slowflowing parts of fast flowing streams with rapids in 1221–1788 m

The description of L. bicolor is predominantely based on three (ZMB 78452, 78453, 78458) genotyped individuals of Gosner stage 26. Body length/total length ratio and description of tail tips was based on nongenotyped specimens of the same developmental stage.

Morphology. Long slender tadpole with narrow and long muscular tail; body elliptical in dorsal view, slightly depressed in lateral view (Fig. 4 a, b); body shape in lateral view either slightly convex, extending level of tail axis (Fig. 4 a) or flat, in line with tail axis (Channing et al. 2012); body length 28.1 ± 2.1% (N= 7) of total length; body height 42.6 ± 4.2% (N= 3) of body length; body width 54.0 ± 4.3% (N= 3) of body length; maximum body width on the level of spiracle insertion; snout nearly rounded to truncate in dorsal view; nostrils oval, positioned laterally, opening slightly pointed ventrally; nostrils equidistant from eye and snout tip; eye diameter 13.1 ± 1.8% (N= 3) of body length; inter-orbital distance slightly exceeds inter-nostril distance; tail fins narrow; dorsal fin originating posterior to tail base (1.7 ± 0.3 mm; N= 3; Fig. 102 in Channing et al. 2012 and ZMB 78461: at level with tail base), equal to slightly deeper than ventral fin, reaching deepest point at about mid-tail, fin edge almost parallel to tail axis; ventral fin originating on level with tail base, narrow and almost parallel to tail axis; tail axis muscular, only slowly converging towards tail tip; tail tip rounded; body height 78.1–100% (N= 3; flatter individuals possibly due to preservation artifact) of total tail height; maximum height of tail axis 62.5–75.0% (N= 3) of total tail height; vent tube dextral; lateral sacs present, extending from spiracle to end of body, covering lower two thirds of flanks; short spiracle, sinistral, translucent, opening lateral, not visible in dorsal view, originating slightly posterior to midbody; mouth opening frontal; labial tooth formula 0/0; both jaw sheaths fully keratinized and of narrow almost rectangular shape; upper jaw distinctly serrated, serrations uniform; lower jaw U-shaped, serrated, lateral pair of caniniform projections (“fangs”; Fig. 4 d), median part with six to seven needle-like cusps (Channing et al. 2012: 8); three distinct serrations abaxial to fangs; large almost semicircular posterior lip covered with 20 papillae; papillae symmetrically arranged along body axis; most papillae arranged in two semicircular rows, one near the lower jaw sheath, the second closer to posterior margin of lower lip (Fig. 4 c); almost straight skin fold on lower lip, just posterior to lower jaw sheath; oral disc width 33.9–45.4% (N= 3) of body length; mouth width 22.2–33.3% (N= 3) of oral disc width.

The largest tadpole at Gosner stage 25 (ZMB 78462) measured 48.8 mm total length (body length: 11.9 mm; tail length: 38.9 mm). The most developed individual (ZMB 78461, Gosner stage 35) measured 45.6 mm total length (body length: 12.8 mm; tail length: 32.8 mm). Amiet (1980) reports tailed metamorphs measuring 13.5 mm SVL.

Coloration in preservation. Dorsal body parts and tail axis irregularly speckled dark brown on brown ground; mottling on tail axis strong, less pattern towards tail tip; anterior part of tail with longitudinal black line; ventrum clearer with very little dark speckling; dorsal fin brownish with darker spots or translucent; ventral fin predominantly translucent cream-white with few darker spots.

Coloration in life. Light brown with dark brown speckling, some dots being lighter; venter light grayishreddish; dark intestinal loops shining through skin; some individuals with cream-white snout.