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24 April 2020 Reproductive Ecology of the Peruvian Earless Toad Rhinella yunga (Amphibia, Bufonidae) with Descriptions of Calls, Tadpole, and Female Competition
Jennifer L. Stynoski, Florencia A. Trama, Federico L. Rizo Patrón, Elicio Tapia, Kim L. Hoke
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Rhinella yunga is a poorly studied but locally abundant endemic bufonid toad found only in two habitat islands of the buffer zones surrounding the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and the Pui Pui Protected Forest in the Selva Central, Peru. Rhinella yunga is unique because it lacks a complete tympanic ear and is larger than most toads lacking a tympanic ear. Here, we report on the natural history, reproductive behavior, and territorial and release calls of R. yunga following field- and captivity-based observations across two breeding seasons. We also provide a description of tadpole external morphology based on a developmental series of laboratory-reared larvae. We found that R. yunga (1) uses low frequency calls (800–1,100 Hz) that are likely detectable without tympanic middle ears and (2) appears to exhibit an unusual mating system with female competition at breeding ponds prior to male arrival. Under these conditions, the need to hear male advertisement calls might have become unnecessary in this species.

© 2020 Brazilian Society of Herpetology
Jennifer L. Stynoski, Florencia A. Trama, Federico L. Rizo Patrón, Elicio Tapia, and Kim L. Hoke "Reproductive Ecology of the Peruvian Earless Toad Rhinella yunga (Amphibia, Bufonidae) with Descriptions of Calls, Tadpole, and Female Competition," South American Journal of Herpetology 2020(15), 85-96, (24 April 2020). https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00030.1
Received: 17 April 2018; Accepted: 10 October 2018; Published: 24 April 2020
KEYWORDS
Earlessness
Female-female aggression
mating system
Rhinella margaritifera group
Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park
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