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Abstract

Seasonal reproductive phenomena in 13 species of salamanders and 16 species of anurans from Arkansas were investigated. Most specimens were collected during a span of 6 years (1985-1990). Clutch characteristics, including mensural and meristic data, were determined from gravid females. In some species, the size of egg masses was also documented. Among the plethodontid salamanders, average clutch size (in parentheses) was greatest in Eurycea lucifuga (77.7) and smallest in Plethodon serratus (7.0). One of 2 ambystomatid salamanders (Ambystoma texanum) averaged 545.4 eggs per clutch; the other species (Ambystoma tigrinum) averaged 1 30.5. Siren intermedia nettingi (one of 3 large salamanders examined) had the greatest mean clutch size (851.3). Among anurans, Rana catesbeiana had the largest clutch size and mass (43,073 eggs and 55.9 g), whereas clutches of Acris crepitans blanchardi averaged the smallest (264.1 eggs and 0.1382 g). Multiple clutch production may be the rule in some amphibians (e.g., Desmognathus brimleyorum, A. c. blanchardi, Pseudacris triseriata feriarum, and P. streckeri streckeri); however, partial clutch deposition remains a possibility in these species. By knowing the synchrony between male and female reproductive cycles, a clarification of the onset, timing, and duration of reproductive phenophases (e.g., courtship, breeding, egg laying, etc.) was documented in many species.

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