1. A skeletochronological estimate of age and growth in a large riparian frog from Madagascar (Anura, Mantellidae, Mantidactylus)
- Author
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Angelica Crottini, Marcello Mezzasalma, Franco Andreone, Fabio Maria Guarino, Jasmin E. Randrianirina, Guarino, Fabio M., Crottini, Angelica, Mezzasalma, Marcello, Randrianirina, Jasmin E., and Andreone, Franco
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,phalangeal skeletochronology ,Mantellidae ,010607 zoology ,Zoology ,sexual size dimorphism ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Aerugoamnis ,Mantidactylus ,Amphibia ,Gnathostomata ,longevity ,lcsh:Zoology ,Animalia ,Branchiostoma capense ,lcsh:QL1-991 ,Chordata ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Riparian zone ,Vertebrata ,Lissamphibia ,geography ,Craniata ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,biology ,Ymeria ,growth curve, longevity, Malagasy herpetofauna, Mantidactylus subgenus, phalangeal skeletochronology, sexual size dimorphism, Vevembe ,Cephalornis ,biology.organism_classification ,Mantidactylus subgenus ,Malagasy herpetofauna ,Vevembe ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Anura ,growth curve - Abstract
We characterized the body size (as snout-vent length), age, sexual size dimorphism, and growth rate in a population of one of the larger riparian frog from Madagascar (Mantidactylusgrandidieri) from a rainforest patch close to Vevembe, SE Madagascar. We identified a significant female-biased sexual size dimorphism. Age was estimated using phalangeal skeletochronology and was significantly higher in females than in males. Modal age class turned out to be 4 years in both sexes but a large percentage of adult females (75%) fell in the 5–6 years-old classes, while no male exceeded 4 years. We here report M.grandidieri as a medium-long-lived anuran species. Von Bertalanffy’s model showed similar growth trajectories between the sexes although the growth coefficient in females (k = 0.335) was slightly but not significantly higher than in males (k = 0.329).
- Published
- 2019