Larvas de Scinax rizibilis (Bokermann) (Anura, Hylidae): avaliando o efeito parental

Abstract

Tadpoles of Scillax rizibilis (Bokermann) (Anura, HyJidae): evalua· ting the paternal effects. A controlled experiment, related with the mating system of Scill.ax rizibilis (Bokermann, 1964), was conducted to assess if larval variation could be due to size of male or its ability to manage an amplexus. Adult indi viduals were caught during breeding activity (from February 1993 to January 1994), in a temporary pond in the municipality of Ribeirao Branco. Sao Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The duration of the larval period was not different between tadpoles of large and small males, nor was it different between tadpoles coming from natural or artificial pairs. The reproductive status of the male (if it had managed an amplexus) also did not influence the total length nor the mass of the tadpoles close to metamorphosis. However. tadpoles of larger and heavier males were. on average, approximately 5.5% and II % larger and heavier. respectively, than tadpoles of smaller males. These results indicate that the breeding system of S. rizibilis could potentially have a directional effect on the larval characteristics.