Ecology and reproduction of the endangered Fijian ground frog Platymantis vitianus - Fiji Islands

This paper reports on the terrestrial nesting behaviour and biometrics of eggs and froglets of the Fijian ground frog, Platymantis vitianus observed on Viwa Island (900m east of the mainland Vitilevu, Fiji Islands), including day-time choices of micro-habitats and variations in capture rates in the sex-age classes of adults and metamorphs with respect to in-situ rainfall conditions. More adult males and gravid females were captured during the wet months of November until January. Metamorphs were more common subsequent to these months. Furthermore, egg masses of P. vitianus were discovered on Viwa Island for the first time, two nests were located underneath rotten logs during high rainfall month of December, 2007. It is highly probable that the reproductive cycle of P. vitianus is continuous while courtship and nesting events are influenced by the variable and higher rainfall months on Viwa Island.