Age structure in the false tomato frog Dyscophus guineti from eastern Madagascar, compared to the closely related D. antongilii (Anura, Microhylidae).

Abstract.*The false tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti, is an endemic species of eastern Madagascar, typically found in open and swampy areas of mid-elevation forests. We measured 62 females and 70 males from a population from Marovato, next to Brickaville. Snout-vent length of the individuals ranged from 37.7-112.4 mm in females and 37.7- 90.7 mm in males, while the mass varied within the range 25.0-80.2 g in males and 25.8- 145.6 g in females. Skeletochronological analysis was conducted on clipped phalanges of 20 males and 20 females. The results of these analyses indicated that the age range was 3-7 years in females and 3-6 years in males, and that sexual maturity was attained between 2 and 4 years, comparatively earlier in males than in females. There was a significant correlation between age and size in females. This species appears larger in size but less long-lived than the sister-species D. antongilii.