Tadpoles of three species of the Rhinella granulosa group with a reinterpretation of larval characters

Abstract

The Rhinella granulosa group currently comprises 14 species of Neotropical toads, and its monophyly is strongly supported by several synapomorphies, including a distinctive set of larval characters. Recently, the identities of specimens used in the description of the tadpoles of R. major and R. mirandaribeiroi were questioned. In this work, we revise the larval external morphology of these species based on properly identified tadpoles and examine for the first time the tadpoles of R. bernardoi. Tadpoles of R. major have the labial tooth row formula 2/2 and a striped tail pattern, which were recovered as synapomorphies of the group. In contrast, tadpoles of R. mirandaribeiroi show a third posterior labial ridge arranged on a medial flap, a condition suggested as a synapomorphy of a derived subclade of the R. granulosa group. Lastly, tadpoles of R. bernardoi differ from the remaining tadpoles within the group by lacking the typical striped tail muscle pigmentation.