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The Tadpoles of Bufo cognatus Say

Chapter 1: The Tadpoles of Bufo cognatus Say
By Hobart M. Smith
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The note provides a concise morphological and developmental account of Bufo cognatus tadpoles based on two series of field-collected specimens. It questions earlier descriptions as likely derived from dried or transforming material and presents consistent observations of mouthpart structure with modest variation in papillary extent and lower labial tooth rows. Measurements and staging are given, with hind limbs appearing near 15 mm, forelimbs near 28 mm, and an adultlike dorsal pattern evident by about 20 mm. The author highlights a strong resemblance to tadpoles attributed to Bufo compactilis and recommends direct comparison of positively identified larvae to clarify their relationship.

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Title: The Tadpoles of Bufo cognatus Say

Author: Hobart M. Smith

Release date: January 18, 2010 [eBook #31011]
Most recently updated: January 6, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Diane Monico, and
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TADPOLES OF BUFO COGNATUS SAY ***

The Tadpoles of Bufo cognatus Say

BY
HOBART M. SMITH


University of Kansas Publications
Museum of Natural History

Volume 1, No. 3, pp. 93-96, 1 figure in text
August 15, 1946


UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
LAWRENCE
1946

University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History
Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Donald S. Farner, Donald F. Hoffmeister
Volume 1, No. 3, pp. 93-96
Published August 15, 1946


University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas


PRINTED BY
FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1946

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The Tadpoles of Bufo cognatus Say

By

HOBART M. SMITH

The tadpoles of this species have been described by Bragg (Copeia, 1936: 14-20, figs. 1-13; Amer. Midl. Nat., 18:273-284, figs. 1-5, 1937). The drawings and descriptions of the mouthparts, however, appear to have been taken from dried, or immature, or transforming individuals, for they do not agree among themselves nor do they agree with larvae obtained in the field and now in the Museum of Natural History of the University of Kansas.

At hand are two series of tadpoles of this species; one series was collected July 2, 1938, 1.5 miles east of Meade County State Park, Kansas, and the other lacks data. The second lot contains numerous sizes of tadpoles from 14 mm. to 31 mm., and several transforming specimens which clearly possess the pattern so typical of this species.

Fig. 1.—Mouthparts of a tadpole of Bufo cognatus. Disk widely spread.
Approximately × 45.

Mouthparts in both series (consisting all told of about 200 specimens) are fairly constant except in the transforming and extremely young specimens. The accompanying figure shows them as seen with the mouth disk widely spread. The indentations at the corners of the mouth in the papillary fringe are more prominent when the mouthparts are less extended. The outer row of teeth of the lower labium is sometimes a little shorter or longer than the figure shows, but the average is about as indicated. The extent of the medial edge of the papillae on the lower labium varies somewhat; in some, the papillae barely reach the level of the ends of the outer row of teeth, while in others they overlap the ends slightly.

Measurements agree with those given by Bragg, except that appearance of the hind legs occurs at about 15 mm.; the fore legs appear at about 28 mm. A pattern recognizably similar to that of the adult is evident at about 20 mm.

These tadpoles show such a striking similarity to those referred by Wright to Bufo compactilis Wiegmann (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 74:4, pl. 5, fig. 6, 1929) that their conspecificity is suggested. If on the other hand, the specimen figured by Wright is properly identified, then the two species must in reality be very closely related. A direct comparison of positively identified tadpoles of each species is much to be desired.

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