Temporal Changes in Number of Breeding Individuals of the Amami Tip-Nosed Frog

A rapid decline in breeding activity was observed among the endangered Amami tip-nosed frog (Odorrana amamiensis) on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan. The study, conducted over eight days in late 2015, documented a high density of breeding individuals—over 200—with active mating calls around a small stream at night for three consecutive days, followed by a sharp decrease. This is the first quantification of such temporal changes in this species. Notably, while primarily nocturnal, some frogs were observed during daylight, suggesting daytime field research could be safer and more efficient than nighttime surveys, given the presence of venomous snakes like the Habu (Protobothrops flavoviridis). These findings provide critical insights for conservation efforts, highlighting the need to understand breeding ecology to protect this threatened amphibian.

Komine, H., & Trentin, B. E. (2020). Temporal Changes in Number of Breeding Individuals of the Amami Tip-Nosed Frog. Current Herpetology, 39(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.5358/hsj.39.13