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Original Articles

Colour change in Darwin's frogs (Rhinoderma darwinii, Duméril and Bibron, 1841) (Anura: Rhinodermatidae)

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Pages 2661-2668 | Received 30 Nov 2010, Accepted 14 Jun 2011, Published online: 29 Sep 2011
 

Abstract

In the laboratory, wild-caught male Rhinoderma darwinii frogs, but not females, changed body colour from brown to green starting with the appearance of green dorsal spots or a greenish dorsal tone on a brown body colour. After a year in captivity, most males exhibited a greenish or complete green dorsal colour, probably induced by the terrarium's swamp (green) vegetation and season.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Rhinoderma captive rearing facility team from Concepción University, Chile and its founding institutions [Leipzig Zoo, Concepción University, Chester Zoo, ZGAP (Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten und Populationsschutz), Reptilia, Huilo-Huilo and SAG]. We acknowledge H. Werning for co-founding the Rhinoderma project, M. Solé, P. Ulmer and A. Charrier for their work in the project, M. Bourke for correcting our English, and M. Solé for pre-peer review. Scientific permits were provided by SAG, Chile, and land permits were provided by land owners. The research was funded by Chester Zoo/North of England Zoological Society in collaboration with Leipzig Zoo, ZGAP and Reptilia. J. Bourke acknowledges a grant from DAAD-CONICYT.

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