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Abstract

The moss froglet Bryobatrachus nimbus is a recently described terrestrial breeding and direct anuran from southwestern Tasmania. A 17-stage table based on changes in external was developed in order to calculate development rates and larval lifespan. This staging demonstrated that development was not predominantly intracapsular as earlier reported. Instead, larvae hatch from the capsule two to three months after oviposition and continue development in the nest within a homogenous, capsule-derived fluid. This reproductive mode was previoulsy known in Australia only in the Geverinia rosea complex from southwestern Australia. This paper describes the larval life-history of a subalpine population and presents data on clutch size, ovum and capsule diameters and the duration of larval development. Capsule size is almost twice that recorded for any other Australian anuran, while the larval lifespan is the longest known for any terrestrial breeding Australian species. Metamorphosis occurs approximately 12 months after oviposition.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Mitchell, N and Swain, R
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, UTAS Library
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.130.1.75
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	Copyright Royal Society of Tasmania
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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