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Growth and ageing of feral Xenopus laevis (Daudin) in South Wales, U.K.
Article first published online: 28 FEB 2006
DOI: 10.1017/S0952836901001054
1469-7998/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=ec34f05777fda21f88c13e60007b0ee7d497ce89 "Journal of Zoology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Measey, G. J. (2001), Growth and ageing of feral Xenopus laevis (Daudin) in South Wales, U.K. Journal of Zoology, 254: 547–555. doi: 10.1017/S0952836901001054
Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 FEB 2006
- Article first published online: 28 FEB 2006
- Accepted 16 October 2000
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- African clawed frogs;
- Xenopus laevis;
- ecology;
- growth;
- invasive amphibians;
- skeletochronolgy
Abstract
A feral population of African clawed frogs Xenopus laevis from a small pond in South Wales was sampled continuously for 2 years to assess morphometric growth. Toe-clips taken at intervals over a 4-year period were found to contain lines of arrested growth (LAG) which corresponded to each consecutive winter. The first toe-clips revealed a population structure within the pond consisting of a dominant cohort of frogs with one LAG that metamorphosed in 1993, and a few older individuals. Subsequent toe-clips in 1996 and 1998 gave two and four more LAG, respectively. Morphometric growth was found to be restricted to a short growing season, significant differences in the growth rates of males and females being first detected in their third growth season. Reproductively active frogs were still within their initial period of growth, suggesting that Xenopus laevis does not conform to the standard energy resource allocation mechanisms of typical ectotherms.