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Sexual dimorphism is commonly encountered in amphibians. Its presence and its ontogeny in a given species has implications for ecology, conservation and captive husbandry. We monitored changes in length and mass of captive mountain chicken frogs Leptodactylus fallax. Initially, sexes were no different in snout-vent length or mass, but by about 17 months after metamorphosis females became significantly larger and heavier than males. Diverging growth trajectories between male and female frogs appeared to coincide with the development of secondary sexual characters in males, indicating sexual maturity, while female frogs did not produce nests until the following breeding season, suggesting later reproductive maturity. The absence of similar dimorphism in other large leptodactylids suggests that its presence in L. fallax may be linked to its unique and energy-intense reproductive strategy, which involves extended maternal provisioning of their young. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple clutching, with two or three successful clutches raised in a single breeding season, is reported from two females of Leptodactylus fallax in two European zoos. Previously, only single clutches were known to be raised by this species. Multiple clutching is perhaps unexpected in this species due to its resource-heavy parental care behaviour. Potential drivers of multiple clutching, including food resourcing and timing and size of initial clutches, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frogs of the genus Indirana are endemic to India. Previous research on these frogs has focussed on taxonomy and systematics but their behaviour remains largely understudied. Here we report the breeding behaviour of Indirana cf. tysoni, including nest building, male to male combat, inguinal amplexus, egg clutch guarding, tadpoles and polymorphism. We also analyse advertisement calls and present a comparative analysis with previously published data. Lastly, we discuss the need to study these breeding behaviours in-depth in order to help frame appropriate conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax) is among the 42 % of amphibians threatened with extinction and is dependent upon ex situ populations to recover in the wild. Amphibian captive husbandry is not fully understood and empirical data are required to optimise protocols for each species in captivity. Calcium metabolism and homeostasis are areas of importance in captive husbandry research and have been identified as a challenge in maintaining ex situ populations of L. fallax. We trialled two frequencies (twice and seven times weekly) of calcium supplementation via dusting of feeder insects in two groups of L. fallax juveniles and measured growth and health effects through morphometrics, radiography, ultrasonography and blood and faecal analysis over 167 days, followed by a further 230 days of monitoring on an intermediate diet informed by the initial dataset. We showed that supplementation treatment did not affect growth or health status as measured through blood analysis, radiography and ultrasonography. More frequent supplementation resulted in significantly more radiopaque endolymphatic sacs and broader skulls. Frogs fed more calcium excreted twice as much calcium in their faeces. The intermediate diet resulted in previously lower supplementation frogs approximating the higher supplementation frogs in morphometrics and calcium stores. Comparison with radiographic data from wild frogs showed that both treatments may still have had narrower skulls than wild animals, but mismatching age class may limit this comparison. Our data may be used to inform dietary supplementation of captive L. fallax as well as other amphibians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, amphibians are declining more rapidly than any other vertebrate group. A general shortage of funding for the support of focused scientific studies led us to investigate local and traditional ecological knowledge as an alternative data source for amphibian conservation. In this context, we undertook a questionnaire-based interview survey with forest-dwelling indigenous and non-indigenous communities across the Anamalai Hills, within the southern Western Ghats of India, to gather ecological knowledge on three cryptic and threatened frog species. Our results suggest that local communities possess ecological knowledge of frogs and that the magnitude of this knowledge is influenced by gender, community type, education, and age. Accuracy of local knowledge was primarily influenced by the morphological distinctiveness of the focal species, but cultural association and utilisation were also important factors especially for the enigmatic purple frog Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis, which has uses in medicine and amulets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better understand the impacts and treatment of infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) it is important to document host species, the effect of infection and response to treatment protocols. Here we report asymptomatic Bd infection detected through duplex qPCR screening of three Mexican ambystomatid salamanders; Ambystoma andersoni, Ambystoma dumerilii and Ambystoma mexicanum at three zoo collections, and A. andersoni and A. mexicanum in a private collection. Bsal was tested for but not detected. We also report the effectiveness and side effects of five treatment protocols in these species. Using the antifungal agent itraconazole, A. dumerilii were cleared of infection without side-effects using the granulated preparation (Sporanox). Morbidity and mortality occurred when A. dumerilii and A. andersoni were treated using a liquid oral preparation of the itraconazole (Itrafungol); infection was successfully cleared in surviving specimens of the latter species. Ambystoma mexicanum was successfully cleared without any side-effects using Itrafungol. Mortality and morbidity were likely caused by toxic effects of some component on the liquid preparation of itraconazole, but aspects of water quality and husbandry cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic predators must forage for prey in a complex three-dimensional environment where the availability of different prey types with different spatial niches may vary. Aquatic predators have evolved a number of ways in which they may respond to this variation, including phenotypic adaptation and behavioural modulation. We investigated whether clawed frogs (Xenopus longipes) can modulate their foraging behaviour in response to benthic (bloodworms) and pelagic (glassworms) prey species to which they had already been exposed, and whether any response would be elicited by chemosensory prey cues alone. Frogs responded to the presence of prey items by foraging more than in a control treatment (no cues at all) and were able to respond appropriately to prey type, foraging more in the water column for glassworms and on the aquarium floor for bloodworms. This effect was maintained in a second set of trials where frogs were exposed only to the chemosensory cues of the same prey items. These data show that X. longipes can modulate its foraging strategy to match the type of prey available and that this behaviour is at least in part informed by chemosensory cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhino rat snake Gonyosoma boulengeri is a medium-sized arboreal colubrid snake from southern China and northern Vietnam. Captive specimens maintained at the Zoological Society of London presented little difficulty in husbandry and were found to breed between March and June. A clutch of 9 eggs were laid on the 16 May 2008 and a clutch of 8 eggs were laid on 4 July 2013, following manipulation of the captive environment to reflect natural seasonality for this species. Post-laying incubation temperature was maintained at a constant 28.0 °C and lasted 52 days for the 2008 clutch and 57 days for the 2013 clutch. All individuals from the 2013 clutch had sloughed their skin for the first time by 10 days post-hatching, and five of the six fed, subsequent to sloughing, by 20 days post-hatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree-runner lizards, Plica plica are neo-tropical ground lizards, native to South America. ZSL London Zoo has bred this species to the second generation (F2); and the 2.1 founder group has produced six clutches with a mean average of three eggs. The eggs were all removed for incubation, producing 11 viable hatchlings. The first F2 breeding took place in September 2015, and a clutch of two eggs were incubated producing two viable hatchlings. This paper describes the captive husbandry and breeding of Plica plica at ZSL London Zoo, and serves to make some preliminary comparisons to wild data to suggest further areas of research and improvements for captive husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus is a Critically Endangered, range-restricted frog found in the southern Western Ghats of India. We report new distribution records outside the protected area network in the Cardamom Hills of Kerala State through direct sightings and local ecological knowledge. These records increase the distribution by 12 km to the south-east of its currently known range and increase the altitudinal range of the species to 1600 m asl. We present a preliminary call analysis of the species that is distinct from the call of its nearest congener R. malabaricus. Foam nests, tadpoles and metamorphs were sighted in agricultural land suggesting the importance of these landscapes for breeding. Breeding continues into the month of November extending the known length of its breeding season. Breeding occurred in highly disturbed areas and oviposition sites varied according to the vegetation around breeding sites and included the use of non-native plants. This suggests the need to exercise caution while conducting habitat restoration programs that involve a standard removal of non-native plants. The IUCN Red List status for this species could be revised from 'Critically Endangered' to 'Endangered' in light of our findings. Local ecological knowledge on amphibians could provide supplementary information on distinct species with local names and those that have short periods of activity, which may not be frequently encountered during field surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Polypedates otilophus were reared from small juveniles to adult breeding size over a period of 18 months. An account of captive husbandry and breeding is provided. Clutch size ranged from 44-119 eggs. Eggs hatched after ten days and tadpoles attained total lengths of 85 mm. Metamorphosis took 74 - 84 days at 22 - 26 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining caecilians in captivity provides opportunities to study life-history, behaviour and reproductive biology and to investigate and to develop treatment protocols for amphibian chytridiomycosis. Few species of caecilians are maintained in captivity and little has been published on their husbandry. We present data on substrate preference in a group of eight Central African Geotrypetes seraphini (Duméril, 1859). Two substrates were trialled; coir and Megazorb (a waste product from the paper making industry). G. seraphini showed a strong preference for the Megazorb. We anticipate this finding will improve the captive management of this and perhaps also other species of fossorial caecilians, and stimulate evidence-based husbandry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares the trade in amphibians and reptiles in Great Britain between 1992-1993 and 2004-2005. The number of amphibian and reptile species in the trade rose by less than a third in both trading periods. Species increases were higher for amphibians, chelonians and lizards, and species turnover between the two trading periods was 31%. Prices of snake species that were popular in the trade fell between the periods. Changes in the price of chelonians were linked with the changes in trade regulations while popularity and overhead costs are among the reasons for amphibian price increases.

The article discusses a study on the environmental parameters and implications for captive husbandry of Typhlonectid caecilian, Typhlonectes natans (T. natans), in Colombia. The study observed Typhlonectes natans disperse into floodplains during the rainy season. The study concluded that Typhlonectes natans, which are widely distributed and kept in captivity, allow captive management of the species. The environmental parameters of the natural habitat occupied by T. natans are recorded. The occurrence of T. natans in lagoons and streams in the wet season reportedly provides an overview of seasonal movement of the species.

The article focuses on the captive husbandry and breeding of the shovel-footed squeaker Arthroleptis stenodactylus. The sexual maturity of the captive species is estimated at less than one year. Crickets consist majority of the live invertebrates diet of Arthroleptis stenodactylus. Sphagnum moss and bark chip were used to lay eggs which were left in-situ and took about one month to hatch. Dilute Ivermectin was used to bathe the frogs for one hour, once a week, and for three weeks as treatment for parasites.

The article reports on initiatives to protect the endangered mountain chicken Leptodactylus fallax, which is considered as the largest amphibian in the Caribbean region and is restricted to the islands of Dominica and Montserrat in Eastern Caribbean. Topics discussed include factors that contributed to the extinction of the specie including its consumption as food, the description of the mountain chicken's reproductive biology and information dissemination among locals to conserve the specie.

The article discusses research on the different aspects of captive husbandry of Taylor's Bug-eyed Frog or Theloderma stellatum. The researcher studied the management, reproduction and health of T. stellatum while in captivity. He found out that T. stellatum bred from the months of April to October, which are considered warmer months. He also observed that the frogs readily oviposited right on the surface of any over-hanging water in captivity, despite their practice of breeding in tree holes when in the wild.

The article reports on the calling site of the Kakhien Hills spadefoot toad Brachytarsophrys feae. It notes that frogs of the genus Brachytarsophrys are deemed rare and the ecology of its five species poorly known. B. feae is known from Northern Vietnam, northeast Myanmar, and northern Thailand among others. It observed specimens found in Tam Dao national park in Vinh Phu province in northern Vietnam. Six males were heard vocalising between 19:30 and 22:30 from small caves under rocky overhangs in shallow, slow moving clear water stream. It believes that males of the species may form chorusing groups with strong site fidelity as reported for other Megophryd frogs. The frogs dug out tunnels under rocks in the sandy substrate of the stream, calling from them to attract females.