A survey of the external morphology, internal oral morphology, chondrocranium and hyobranchial apparatus of Elachistocleis larvae Parker, 1927 (Anura, Microhylidae)

The external morphology, internal oral morphology, the chondrocranium and the hyobranchial apparatus of Elachistocleis bumbameuboi, E. cf. piauiensis, E. cesarii and E. bicolor are described and compared with each other and with other species of microhylids using available descriptions from the literature. The general morphology of Elachistocleis species is conservative in many aspects. Differences between species are subtle and are found in the body shape, the edge of the snout, fin height, if the lateral line is evident, the presence of regular pustules in the buccal roof arena, the posterolateral edge of the cartilago suprarostralis, the shape of the fenestra in the occipital region, presence or absence of fenestra hypophysea, the margin of the processus antorbitalis, expansions in the ventrolateral process, the shape and inclination of the fenestra subocularis, whether the subotic process is single or slightly bifid, and the inclination of the processus anterolateralis hyalis.