Diet comparison between rainforest and cave populations of Craugastor alfredi (Anura: Craugastoridae): does diet vary in contrasting habitats?

Information about interpopulational variation of diet is important for thoroughly understanding the ecological niche of a species, the possible attributes that have allowed it to live in different habitats and ecosystems (if it is the case) and the degree of dietary specialization. This study compared dietary composition and diversity, size of prey consumed and feeding intensity between two geographically proximate populations of Craugastor alfredi, inhabiting contrasting habitats: one located in a remnant tropical rainforest and the other population located within a cave entrance, in eastern Mexico. A total of 118 frogs (50 from rainforest and 68 from cave) were stomach-flushed and, from those, 86 had at least one prey item (42 from rainforest and 44 from cave). Consumption proportions of orthopterans differed between habitats, with frogs from the cave having higher importance values of this prey than frogs from the rainforest. Additionally, both dietary diversity and feeding intensity were higher in the rainforest population. It was concluded that the generalized diet of C. alfredi, besides the high consumption of orthopterans by the cave population, may have contributed to its success in cave entrances. Nonetheless, other non-feeding attributes like small body size, direct development and semiarboreality may also facilitate the use of rock crevices in caves for foraging and reproduction.     

Advertisement calls of Neotropical poison frogs (Amphibia: Dendrobatidae) of the genera Colostethus,Dendrobates and Epipedobates,with notes on dendrobatid call classification

The advertisement calls of the following Neotropical poison frog species (Dendrobatidae) are described: Colostethus brunneus, Dendrobates imitator yurimaguensis, D. leucomelas and two populations referable to Epipedobates boulengeri. Oscillograms, audiospectrograms and measurements of vocalizations are provided. Advertisement calls of C. brunneus are similar to possible related species, while D. leucomelas vocalizations deviate from suggested phylogenetic relatives. Advertisement calls of D. imitator yurimaguensis do not differ from those of D. i. imitator ; the validity of the former is doubted. Bioacoustics provide evidence that E. boulengeri could probably comprise a complex of at least two species. Five formerly suggested call types are re-defined using measurable characters. As far as possible, the 71 dendrobatid frog species for which advertisement calls have been described are allocated.     

Taxonomic notes on the Asian frogs of the tribe Paini (Ranidae,Dicroglossinae): 1. Morphology and synonymy of Chaparana aenea (Smith, 1922), with proposal of a new statistical method for testing homogeneity of small samples

The species from northern Vietnam described as Rana fansipani Bourret, is shown to be a synonym of the species from northern Thailand described as Rana aenea Smith, . The male secondary sex characters of this species are described in detail for the first time. Combined with a few other characters, they allow this species to be distinguished from the closely related Rana unculuanus Liu, Hu and Yang, 1960 from southern China. Both species should be placed in a subgenus Chaparana (Chaparana), a member of the tribe Paini of the subfamily Dicroglossinae of the Ranidae. In this study, we propose a new statistical method for testing homogeneity of small samples: this consists of considering the values obtained for each specimen and for each regression factor score as morphometric characteristics of this specimen within the frame of this analysis; these values, or some of them, can be used to compare subgroups of specimens by non‐parametric tests such as the Mann–Whitney U test.     

Tadpole deposition behaviour in male stream frogs Mannophryne trinitatis (Anura: Dendrobatidae)

Male Mannophryne trinitatis transport their larvae on their backs to predator‐free pools and deposit them there. The experiments reported here investigated M. trinitatis male deposition behaviour in containers placed near a heavily fish‐populated stream at Mount Saint Benedict, northern Trinidad. Choice of deposition site was not related to height above or distance from the stream. The low mean number of tadpoles deposited in each container in the field and in a laboratory experiment indicated that most males tended not to deposit complete clutches in single pools. Deposition experiments in the laboratory with a choice of different‐sized containers showed that deposition was pool size dependent, with more tadpoles deposited in larger containers. Deposition behaviour when given a choice of containers with leaf litter (a source of food and shelter) and with no leaf litter showed no significant preference. Tadpoles grown in different water volumes with different food sources revealed that tadpole growth was best in larger water volumes containing leaf litter. Regular tadpole inspections at a pool in the field established that most tadpoles present were the result of downstream movement.     

Vocalizations of the Brazilian torrent frog Hylodes heyeri (Anura: Hylodidae): Repertoire and influence of air temperature on advertisement call variation

In this study we analysed the acoustic activity of Hylodes heyeri in areas of Atlantic Forest, in southern Brazil. Observations were made in November 2001 and from January to April 2002, at Estação II Instituto Agronômico do Paraná, municipality of Morretes, State of Paraná. Males displayed three different vocalizations: advertisement calls, territorial calls, and courtship calls. Temporal and spectral parameters of advertisement and territorial calls were analysed, along with call intensity. The duration of the advertisement call showed a negative correlation with air temperature, with males decreasing the duration of advertisement calls at higher temperatures. Male body size was not correlated with any of the acoustic parameters. Details on habitat use, distances to nearest vocalizing neighbour, and daily calling activity are also included.     

无尾两栖类宿主与多盘科吸虫关系的初步探讨

文章调查研究了云南14种无尾两栖类体内寄生多盘吸虫的自然感染情况。滇中、滇东地区滇蛙和昭觉林蛙、滇南杜氏泛树蛙为多盘吸虫宿主。分析影响多盘吸虫宿主分布的原因可能有:地质构造、无尾两栖类宿主对多盘吸虫的免疫力和多盘吸虫侵入宿主产生的致病力对抗的不同。两栖类宿主和多盘吸虫的协同进化,导致同一种无尾两栖类宿主体内寄生的多盘吸虫有交叉感染情况存在。     

The advertisement calls of three South American poison frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae), with comments on their taxonomy and distribution

The advertisement calls of three species of dendrobatid frogs from Bolivia and Peru are described. For each species we present a characteristic audiospectogram and oscillogram. We also provide numerical information about the spectral and temporal features of the calls. Our recordings of these species are compared with previously described calls of the same species from other locations. Comparisons between the calls of three different populations of Colostethus from Peru and Bolivia support their conspecificity. Characteristics of the call of a Peruvian population of Epipedobates differ from those of E. hahneli, suggesting that further taxonomic research is needed. The distribution of the genus Colostethus and Epipedobates in Bolivia is reassessed.     

Breeding behaviour and mating success of Phyllomedusa rohdei (Anura,Hylidae) in south‐eastern Brazil

Observations on the courtship behaviour, mating behaviour and mating success of a leaf‐frog, Phyllomedusa rohdei, population were conducted in a temporary flooded site of the Atlantic Forest, south‐eastern Brazil. We did not find any influence of size and body weight on male mating success across three scales: seasonal, nightly chorus and local groups (males found within 1?m of a mated pair). In addition, no evidence was found that female Phyllomedusa rohdei exhibit overt mate choice. The formation of mated pairs in P. rohdei occurred because males moved toward the females, rather than reverse. The only variable that was significantly related to male mating success was the number of nights of participation in chorus activity. Besides calling tactics, males showed active searching behaviour. There was no evidence of size‐ and mass‐assortative mating, and a high percentage of fertilization at all size and mass ratios of males and females was observed. Clutches in this species are produced in the same manner found in others members of Phyllomedusa; a purse‐like nest is made over water by folding a leaf around the egg mass (embryos and fluid‐filled capsules). Finally, we supply a list of several studies that examined the relationship between size or mass ratios of males and females in amplexus and its influence on fertilization rate, and show that size‐assortative mating in anurans is inconsistent (present in some species but not in other).     

Spatial and temporal distribution of breeding anurans in streams in southeastern Brazil

Anuran communities were studied at eight permanent forest streams located in a preserved site in southeastern Brazil, from August 2003 to October 2004. Nineteen species were recorded in six families: Bufonidae (two), Centrolenidae (one), Cycloramphidae (one), Hylidae (12), Hylodidae (two), and Leiuperidae (one). Twelve species exhibited calling activities during the study period and 10 of these were assumed to be reproductively active. The number of species present in streams was negatively related to stream volume. The composition of anuran assemblages was related to stream volume and structural complexity of the streamside habitat. Levels of dissimilarity between anuran communities from different streams were not related to the geographical distance separating these streams. Rainfall and mean monthly temperatures were not related to anuran species diversity per month, which may be due to forested sites providing appropriate conditions for reproduction for many species year‐round and favouring anuran species with long breeding periods. The results obtained indicate that streams of varied sizes, as well as streamside habitats, should be preserved in order to maintain anuran diversity.     

Reproductive biology of Scinax fuscomarginatus (Anura,Hylidae) in south‐eastern Brazil

The present study describes the reproductive biology of Scinax fuscomarginatus in a remnant of Cerrado in south‐eastern Brazil. Observations were made between September 2002 and March 2004 at Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, State of São Paulo, south‐eastern Brazil. Breeding activities occurred in lentic and temporary bodies of water during the rainy season. Scinax fuscomarginatus exhibited a prolonged breeding pattern and a lek mating system. Males were smaller than females and defended individual calling areas through acoustic and physical interactions. Resident males consistently won encounters, but did not differ in size or mass from intruder males. Satellite behaviour was observed, but no female or amplected pair interception was registered. Scinax fuscomarginatus exhibited low operational sex ratios and the general reproductive mode in which eggs are laid in the water and tadpoles are aquatic. Amplexus was axillary and the eggs were deposited at the bottom of temporary ponds. Details on oocytes, egg masses, and eggs are included.