A record of captive reproduction in the Red bellied toad Melanophryniscus klappenbachi with notes on the use of a short-term brumation period

摘要

The South American genus Melanophryniscus is represented throughout Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay by 26 species (Frost 2013) of small to medium sized Bufonids. These are collectively and commonly referred to as the red-bellied toads, as many species possess red or orange flash markings upon their ventral surface and the undersides of the hands and feet. Some species are also in possession of a brightly coloured dorsum; much like members of the Dendrobatidae, although most remain less conspicuously marked. These toads are mostly diurnal, spending the day foraging for small invertebrates. Their reproduction is seasonal and opportunistic; many species occur in usually dry habitats where explosive breeding takes place after heavy rains, where many individuals emerge to reproduce in temporary water bodies (Aquino et al. 2004, Garcia et al. 2004, Lavilla et al. 2004). The resulting larvae have been known to display rapid development to ensure metamorphosis before the disappearance of these breeding sites in the usually dry environment (Kurth et al. 2013).