Molecular identifications and descriptions of the tadpoles of Rhacophorus kio Ohler & Delorme, 2006 and Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu & Hu, 1960 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae)

The knowledge of the development is important in organisms with a biphasic life cycle, as in anuran amphibians, particularly in families in which the developmental modes greatly vary between genera and are used for their systematics. This is the case of the family Rhacophoridae Hoffman, 1932. The tadpoles of Rhacophorus kio Ohler & Delorme, 2006 and Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu & Hu, 1960, two sympatric species of the genus Rhacophorus Kuhl & Van Hasselt, 1822 found in syntopy in Northwestern Thailand are molecularly identified, morphologically described and illustrated. The buccal anatomy is documented and described. These two tadpoles are compared to the known tadpoles of their species group as here newly defined based on the latest molecular results. Additionally they are compared to the known tadpoles of the Rhacophorus species that can be found in sympatry with them.