Sexual Size Dimorphism and Age inOdontophrynuscf.barrioi(Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Monte Desert, Argentina

Diet composition, body condition and sexual size dimorphism of the common African toad(Amietophrynus regularis)in urban and agricultural landscape

“…However, females consumed a greater diversity of prey items, which could be due to their higher energy requirements, particularly during the breeding season (Quiroga et al ., 2015), when their higher metabolic rates support reproductive functions (Balint et al ., 2008). Also, fecundity and egg size in amphibians depend on the nutritional quality of food (Van Ngo and Ngo, 2014).…”

“…Sexual size dimorphism may be due to different selective pressures experienced by different sexes (Lowe and Hero, 2012). For both sites, females were larger in size (SVL and weight) than males, which is consistent with the general trend in anurans and other amphibians (Lee, 2001; Monnet and Cherry, 2002; Di Cerbo and Biancardi, 2012; Lowe and Hero, 2012; Labus et al ., 2013; Seglie et al ., 2013; Quiroga et al ., 2015; Mori et al ., 2017). The disparity in weight between males and females may be due to fecundity selection (Altunisik, 2017).…”

“…During the day, toads were searched for under leaf litter, fallen logs, rocks, and other microhabitats where toads are known to seek refuge. During chorusing nights, calling males or pairs in amplexus (Plate 1) were captured by hand following Quiroga et al ., (2015) and Oropeza-Sanchez et al (2018). The sexes of individuals were determined using the presence or absence of sub-gular pigmentation (Plate 2) following Vera-Candioti et al (2019).…”

Contrasting life-histories in two syntopic amphibians of the Leptodactylus fuscus group (Heyer 1978)

“…Variation in age structure promoting considerable variation in adult body size has been widely demonstrated in amphibians (Díaz-Paniagua and Mateo 1999, Miaud et al 1999, laugen et al . 2005, Marangoni et al 2006, 2012, Cajade et al 2013, Quiroga et al 2015. In addition, contrasting life-strategies related to growth rates, age and body size at sexual maturity of males versus females can also shape sexual size dimorphism in amphibians (Hemelaar 1988, Halliday andTejedo 1995).…”

“…Skeletochronology is a useful technique to estimate individual age in amphibians, and discriminate variations in growth rates and agerelated parameters such as age and size at sexual maturity, longevity, and potential reproductive lifespan (Sinsch 2015). These life-history parameters also allow explaining the actual pattern of sexual size dimorphism in amphibians (Marangoni et al 2012, Cajade et al 2013, Quiroga et al 2015. Skeletochronology is based on the presence of cyclic and annular bone growth, which can be visualized in cross-sections of bones (Castanet 1982, Castanet andSmirina 1990).…”