Abstract
The breeding biology of Ranitomeya biolat was studied in lowland rain forest dominated by patches of bamboo in the Tambopata region of Peru. A grid of cut lengths of bamboo was sampled 21 times over a six-month period, and the presence of R. biolat adults, tadpoles, and eggs was recorded. A total of 94 adult frogs was captured from bamboos on 271 occasions. Egg masses were deposited on the inside of bamboo stems, but 41% failed to produce any tadpoles. Tadpoles developed in water trapped within the internodal cavity and took 58 days from hatching to reach full metamorphosis. Tadpoles in bamboos with eggs grew significantly faster than tadpoles in bamboos without eggs, suggesting that oophagy may be occurring. The use of bamboo as a specialist breeding niche by R. biolat is dependent on the bamboo interior being exposed by other organisms.
Published Version
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