Female Reproductive Cycle in a Southern Population of the Water Frog (Pelophylax bedriagae) in Egypt

Mamdouh S. A. Akef

Abstract


Reproductive period in the water frog, Pelophylax bedriagae is long and lasted from March to August. The snout-vent length of the smallest mature female was 65.5 mm. Breeding female can lie at least two clutches per season. Number of eggs ranged from about 610 to 5040/100 g of body weight in spring and from 240 to 2330/100 g of body weight in summer. Egg diameter ranged from 1.33 to 1.75 mm. Decrease in the number and size of the mature ovarian eggs occurred in overwintering females and also occurred at elevated temperatures in August 2008 in the case of the large females only. Vitellogenesis is active throughout the year and exhibits multiple peaks during breeding and non-breeding period. Recruitment for vitellogenesis is initiated just after breeding in September and ended by the formation of the largest vitellogenic peak in late November. Atresia was maximal after oviposition during the reproductive period. Liver and fat body play a supporting role in vitellogenic growth of oocytes during the breeding and non-breeding period. Gonad and somatic masses are positively correlated to each other and all of them in a positive relationship with body weight during the annual cycle.

Keywords


Pelophylax bedriagae; follicular enlargement; gonad and somatic cycles

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2012-19-3-251–260

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