The peculiar breeding biology of the Amazonian frog Allobates subfolionidificans (Aromobatidae)

Abstract

Allobates subfolionidificans is a vulnerable and endemic leaf-litter frog from the state of Acre, Brazilian Amazonia. We monitored a population of A. subfolionidificans through regular censuses and mark-recapture of 181 individuals during an entire breeding season to characterize its reproductive behavior. The space use of A. subfolionidificans individuals differed between sexes, with males using smaller and more segregated spaces. Males defended territories and were aggressive against same-sex individuals, which was not the case in females. The daily cycle of calling activity showed peaks in the morning and in the afternoon, and the occurrence of reproductive events was positively correlated with monthly rainfall. The breeding behavior comprised vocal and tactile interactions, although the species lacked reproductive amplexus. Egg and larvae attendance, as well as tadpole transport to water environments was performed mostly by males but occasionally by females, probably in cases of desertion by the father. This species is characterized by performing courtship, mating, oviposition, as well as egg and larvae attendance exclusively on the under surface of leaves, a unique behavior among members of the superfamily Dendrobatoidea.

Induced parental care in a poison frog: a tadpole cross-fostering experiment

“…In addition, the similar spatio-temporal patterns of tadpole transport between the sexes suggest shared underlying spatio-cognitive capabilities. While parental care in poison frogs is typically classified based on species- and sex-specific parental roles, anecdotal observations and some experimental data suggest that both the presumed species- and sex-specific parental roles may be more flexible than often assumed ( Myers and Daly, 1983 ; Ringler et al, 2015a ; Souza et al, 2017 ; Tumulty et al, 2014 ; Vacher et al, 2017 ; Wells, 2007 , table 11.3, pp. 524–526).…”

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of the Prolonged Courtship in Brilliant-Thighed Poison Frogs, Allobates femoralis

“…The prolonged courtship behavior in dendrobatids is important to locate a suitable oviposition site (Lima et al 2002;Montanarin et al 2011;Forti et al 2013;Souza et al 2017;Rocha et al 2018a). In Al.…”

“…Tropical environments have also favored prolonged breeding and courtship in several families of anurans such as Leptodactylidae (Guerra and Ron 2008), Eleutherodactylidae (Townsend and Stewart 1986), Dicroglossidae (Emerson 1992), Centrolenidae (Greer and Wells 1980), Hylidae (Schwartz and Wells 1985), or Dendrobatidae (Summers 1992). Several studies have highlighted the particularly long courtship in Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae; Wells 1978;Summers 1992;Roithmair 1994a;Costa and Facure 2006;Montanarin et al 2011;Grant et al 2017;Souza et al 2017).…”

“…paleovarzensis [Rocha et al 2018a]; and Al. subfolionidificans [Souza et al 2017]). Complex courtship interactions with tactile, acoustic, and/or visual components are common and often last longer than 1 h (e.g., D. leucomelas and O. histrionica [Summers 1992]; Am.…”

“…braccata [Forti et al 2013]; Al. subfolionidificans [Souza et al 2017]). Courtship duration varies widely between poison frog species, but the functional differences resulting from this variation are barely understood.…”