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The Madagascar-endemic mantellid genus Mantidactylus contains one subclade with two described frog species characterized by very large body sizes. This subclade is classified as the subgenus Mantidactylus and is widespread in eastern and northern Madagascar, but their reproductive biology and larval stages are still unknown. We here provide a detailed description of the larvae of one species in this subgenus, M. guttulatus, on the basis of genetic assignment (16S DNA barcoding). The tadpoles were collected in the dry season from shallow waters near a stream in the Mahajanga Province in northwestern Madagascar. Their body and tail shape is remarkably generalized as typical for stream-adapted tadpoles, and the oral disc and labial keratodont row formula (4(2-4)/3(1)) are similar to those of other lotic mantellid frog larvae with generalized mouthparts like those in the subgenus Brygoomantis. The well-separated positions of these subgenera in the mantellid phylogeny suggest extensive homoplasy in the evolution of larval mouthpart morphology within Mantidactylus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many different reproductive strategies have been documented in anurans. In particular, in the family Leptodactylidae, oviposition strategies range from aquatic to terrestrial, based on eggs in foam nests. However, information on reproductive site variation within the same species is scarce. During an inventory and ecological study of amphibians in the lowlands of Bolivia, we recorded two populations of a member of the Leptodactylus pentadactylus species group. Analyses of tadpole morphology and DNA barcoding provided evidence for a conspecific status of both populations, assigned to L. vastus. One population showed semi-aquatic oviposition, whereas we assume both semi-aquatic and terrestrial egg deposition in the other population, the terrestrial reproductive mode being associated with termite mounds. We discuss deficient oviposition, populations with fixed reproductive strategies or a case of reproductive mode plasticity as possible interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the impact of extreme drought in the community of anuran amphibians in Chiquitano region, Bolivia. The study performed acoustic surveys which showed the decline of the population of amphibians. It states that the decline can possibly be related to the strong decrease of precipitation in the dry season in 2006 and absence of rainfall for 153 consecutive days. Study reveals that the lack of humidity during the period of aestivation in terrestrial habitats may have negative impact in the survival rate of frogs. It adds that further focus in the impact of extreme weather in amphibian populations is needed to better understand the interrelations between biodiversity and climate.

The article presents a study on the ecology and diversity of anuran communities in San Sebastián in Chiquitano region, Bolivia. It also examined seasonal calling activity, microhabitat selection and call frequency segregation of anurans and typical habitats were investigated by transect methods. It mentions that the most abundant species were D. nanus, Dendropsophus minutus, Scinax cf. fuscomarginatus, and Phyllomedusa boliviana. The study also found a high level of partitioning of anuran species according to call frequency segregation, microhabitat selection, and seasonal calling activity.