Ecology and reproduction of the endangered Fijian Ground Frog Platymantis vitianus – Fiji Islands
Author(s)
Narayan, Edward
Christi, Ketan
Morley, Craig
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2008
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper reports on the terrestrial nesting behaviour and biometrics of eggs and froglets of the Fijian ground frog, Platymantis vitianus observed on Viwa Island (900m east of the mainland Vitilevu, Fiji Islands), including day-time choices of micro-habitats and variations in capture rates in the sex-age classes of adults and metamorphs with respect to in-situ rainfall conditions. More adult males and gravid females were captured during the wet months of November until January. Metamorphs were more common subsequent to these months. Furthermore, egg masses of P. vitianus were discovered on Viwa Island for the first time, ...
View more >This paper reports on the terrestrial nesting behaviour and biometrics of eggs and froglets of the Fijian ground frog, Platymantis vitianus observed on Viwa Island (900m east of the mainland Vitilevu, Fiji Islands), including day-time choices of micro-habitats and variations in capture rates in the sex-age classes of adults and metamorphs with respect to in-situ rainfall conditions. More adult males and gravid females were captured during the wet months of November until January. Metamorphs were more common subsequent to these months. Furthermore, egg masses of P. vitianus were discovered on Viwa Island for the first time, two nests were located underneath rotten logs during high rainfall month of December, 2007. It is highly probable that the reproductive cycle of P. vitianus is continuous while courtship and nesting events are influenced by the variable and higher rainfall months on Viwa Island.
View less >
View more >This paper reports on the terrestrial nesting behaviour and biometrics of eggs and froglets of the Fijian ground frog, Platymantis vitianus observed on Viwa Island (900m east of the mainland Vitilevu, Fiji Islands), including day-time choices of micro-habitats and variations in capture rates in the sex-age classes of adults and metamorphs with respect to in-situ rainfall conditions. More adult males and gravid females were captured during the wet months of November until January. Metamorphs were more common subsequent to these months. Furthermore, egg masses of P. vitianus were discovered on Viwa Island for the first time, two nests were located underneath rotten logs during high rainfall month of December, 2007. It is highly probable that the reproductive cycle of P. vitianus is continuous while courtship and nesting events are influenced by the variable and higher rainfall months on Viwa Island.
View less >
Journal Title
South Pacific Journal of Natural Science
Volume
26
Issue
1
Subject
Vertebrate Biology
Zoology
Other Biological Sciences
Fisheries Sciences