During the course of a telemetry study on three species of Australian frogs (
Litoria caerulea, Litoria dahlii and Cyclorana australis
), we found that many of the surgically implanted transmitters had migrated into the bladder. We subsequently implanted small beads into
L. caerulea
and they were expelled from the body in 10–23 days. Beads implanted into cane toads (
Rhinella marina
) to document the process were either expelled or were enveloped into the bladder. This appears to be a unique pathway for expulsion of foreign objects from the body, and suggests that caution should be employed in telemetry studies when interpreting the separation of some animals from their transmitters as a mortality event.
Twenty-two species of nocturnal reptiles were identified in the Robin Falls area during one year (2001-02) of regular observational surveys. More reptiles were observed during the build-up and early dry season compared to the wet and the dry seasons.The greatest number of individuals (42) and species ( 15) of nocturnal reptiles were recorded during the build-up (Sept.-Nov.), during which average night-time temperatures of 28"C, absolute humidity of 19.07g/m 3 , and total rainfall of 190 mm were experienced. While comparisons of seasonal climatic factors produced trends, temperature, humidity and rainfall did not show any significant relationship with the number of observed reptiles. Nearly one third of the nocturnal reptile species listed in the Robin Falls area are considered to be susceptible to the Cane Toad Bufo marinus.This study provides preliminary quantitative baseline data from which to examine any future detrimental effects of the Cane Toad on nocturnal species of reptiles in the Robin Falls area.
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