Reproduction in the nest building vizcacheras frog Leptodactylus bufonius in central Argentina

A population of vizcacheras frogs Leptodactylus bufonius was studied at a man-made pond in the north of Cordoba Province in central Argentina during December 2000 and 2001. Breeding females were larger than breeding males with both sexes attaining sexual maturity at two years of age and most living to a maximum age of four years. The sex ratio of the breeding population was approximately 1.2male : 1female. Although the numbers of eggs and tadpoles found in sealed nests was the same as the number of eggs found in the ovaries of unspawned females, between-year differences in egg production per female were found. Nests were constructed by males, at night, and then abandoned for at least 24 hours. Amplexus and spawning occurred within the nest. The nest was then vacated and the female sealed the nest aperture with wet mud. The minimum and maximum temperatures recorded inside sealed nests were less extreme than those recorded outside the nest.