Title
Reproductive Ecology of the Peruvian Earless Toad Rhinella yunga (Amphibia, Bufonidae) with Descriptions of Calls, Tadpole, and Female Competition
Date Issued
01 January 2020
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Stynoski J.L.
Stynoski J.L.
Tapia E.
Hoke K.L.
Centro de Capacitación en Conservación y Desarrollo Sostenible
Centro de Capacitación en Conservación y Desarrollo Sostenible
Publisher(s)
IGI Global
Abstract
Rhinella yunga is a poorly studied but locally abundant endemic bufonid toad found only in two habitat islands of the buffer zones surrounding the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and the Pui Pui Protected Forest in the Selva Central, Peru. Rhinella yunga is unique because it lacks a complete tympanic ear and is larger than most toads lacking a tympanic ear. Here, we report on the natural history, reproductive behavior, and territorial and release calls of R. yunga following field- and captivity-based observations across two breeding seasons. We also provide a description of tadpole external morphology based on a developmental series of laboratory-reared larvae. We found that R. yunga (1) uses low frequency calls (800-1,100 Hz) that are likely detectable without tympanic middle ears and (2) appears to exhibit an unusual mating system with female competition at breeding ponds prior to male arrival. Under these conditions, the need to hear male advertisement calls might have become unnecessary in this species.
Start page
85
End page
96
Volume
2020
Issue
15
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, ciencias biológicas del comportamiento Biología reproductiva
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85088291880
Source
South American Journal of Herpetology
ISSN of the container
18089798
Sponsor(s)
We thank M. Womack, C. Tortorelli, D. Gannon, F.P. Condori Ccarhuarupay, J.C. Chaparro, A. Delgado, and F. Arroyo for assistance with field work and tadpole rearing. We also thank S. Aguiniga for scientific illustrations. This study was conducted with approval of IACUC at Colorado State University (protocol 15–5715A) and USA and Peruvian authorities (research permit 195–2015–SER-FOR–DGGSPFFS, export permit 003004–SERFOR). This research was funded by the National Science Foundation (IOS-1350346) and a postdoctoral fellowship to JLS from the American Association of University Women.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus