Observations on the ecology and breeding biology of the genus Chiromantis (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)

Abstract

The construction of foam nests by the Anura seems to be a habit that has evolved separately in all the main zoogeographical regions. Chiromantis is a large tree frog weighing up to 5.5 g which is restricted to the Ethiopian region. This genus comprises three species which are found in the three main African biomes from rain forest ( C. rufescens ), through woodland ( C. xerampelina ) to semi‐arid savannah ( C. petersii ). The female of C. rufescens is shown in this study to construct her nest with the assistance of three males, and like the other two species, the nests are always fastened to objects over temporary water sources. Although the rain forest and savannah species are the same size the latter lays twice as many eggs as the former. Additionally it is shown that the eggs of C. petersii are only half the size of C. rufescens. These facts can be correlated with the degree of permanence of the water source over which the nest is constructed. Features of the water economy and ecology are also described.