No Experimental Evidence for Cannibalism in Tadpoles of a Rhacophorid Treefrog, Polypedates braueri

Abstract

In recent years, cannibalism has been increasingly documented in larval amphibians and anecdotal observations suggested that tadpoles of Polypedates braueri (Rhacophoridae) exhibit this unusual feeding behavior. To test these observations, we conducted a laboratory experiment where we manipulated both density and food quantity in P. braueri tadpoles. However, there were no significant differences in survival among treatments and no instances of cannibalism were observed during the course of the experiment in any treatments. Despite using conditions that might facilitate cannibalism (low food, high density), we were unable to experimentally confirm its existence under the conditions examined.