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Summary: Longevity and body size in three populations
of Dyscophus antongilii (Microhylidae, Dyscophinae),
the tomato frog from north-eastern Madagascar
Giulia Tessa1, Fabio M. Guarino2, Cristina Giacoma3, Fabio Mattioli4, Franco
Andreone1
1 Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Sezione di Zoologia, Via G. Giolitti, 36, I-10123 Torino, Italy.
Corresponding author. E-mail: franco.andreone@regione.piemonte.it
2 Università di Napoli Federico II, Dipartimento di Biologia Funzionale e Strutturale, Via Cinthia, I-
80126 Napoli, Italy
3 Università degli Studi di Torino, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Via A. Albertina, 13,
I-10123 Torino, Italy
4 Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, I-16128 Genova, Italy
Abstract. Age profile and body size were studied in three populations of the rare and
understudied tomato frog, Dyscophus antongilii, from NE Madagascar. For each indi-
vidual, a phalanx was clipped and the bone used for skeletochronology. Sexual dimor-
phism is significantly different between all three populations: females are larger and
heavier than males, with males also being distinguishable by a more yellowish throat.
Age structure analysis was possible on two populations (Antara, Lampirano). The age
within the two populations ranged between 3 and 7 years (mean ± SD = 5.0 ± 0.2) for
males, and 3 to 11 years (mean ± SD = 5.8 ± 0.3) for females. Longevity was positively
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