Breeding and parental behaviour in the glass frog Centrolene savagei (Anura: Centrolenidae)

Abstract

We examine factors that influence male mating success in the glass frog Centrolene savagei; in addition, we describe courtship behaviour, oviposition and early parental behaviour. Fieldwork was conducted in the Colombian Andes during the rainy season from April 2006 to January 2011. Larger males had more chances of mating than smaller males; neither the height of calling site nor number of nights calling influenced the male mating success. Apparently, females choose males on the basis of call frequency attributes. Ours is the first study in glass frogs to report mating success skewed toward larger males. Courtship behaviour includes acoustic signals and visual displays. Additionally, we recorded an unusual routine interruption of amplexus by the male, and a synchronized behaviour between the female and male that indicates the beginning of male parental behaviour. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.