Body size, age and growth in males populations of Boana pulchella (Anura, Hylidae)

Age determination in amphibians is crucial to the investigation of life-history traits. In this context, we studied, for the first time, the life-history traits of Boana pulchella from a sample (63 adult males) of three populations (Las Acequias, Rio Cuarto, Alejandro Roca) in central Argentina using the skeletochronological method. All adults of B. pulchella studied showed recognizable bone structures that allowed age determination. The average snout-vent length of sexually mature males was 43.39 mm. The maximum observed longevity was 5 years (5 Las Acequias, 4 Rio Cuarto, 3 Alejandro Roca) and minimum age at sexual maturity was 2 years (same in the three populations), with mean of 2.96 years. Body size and age were positively correlated (except in Alejandro Roca populations). The growth patterns, estimated by the von Bertalanffy growth equation, do not show differences between populations, and the growth rate decrease after the attainment of sexual maturity. In conclusion, the determination of the individual age of the different populations of B. pulchella allowed us for the first time to establish the characteristics of the life history of the species, important for future comparisons whit others populations and future conservation biology studies.

Automated summary

Through skeletochronological method, the life-history traits of Boana pulchella from three populations in central Argentina were studied for the first time. The average snout-vent length of sexually mature males was 43.39 mm, with a maximum observed longevity of 5 years and minimum age at sexual maturity of 2 years. Body size and age were positively correlated, and growth rate decreased after sexual maturity.