Herein we present new data on the breeding activity of the Neotropical treefrog H. albopunctatus. Data was collected in the Municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Behavioral events were observed focally. We determined the pattern of spatial distribution of the tadpoles. We compared abundance of tadpoles in lakes and swamps and correlated it with variation in depth, amount of vegetable substratum and number of arthropods through a Principal Component Analysis. We tested the palatability of eggs and tadpoles for two species of teleosts. Males vocalized in almost all months of the year. Males were smaller than the females and presented one spine in each prepolex. Amplexus was alternated between axillary and tympanic types. Clutches averaged 769 eggs and were laid floating in a single layer. Tadpole coloration changed ontogenetically from black to tan. Eggs were not consumed by the two tested species of teleosts, but the tadpoles yes. Tadpoles had an aggregated distribution in their habitats. The swamps presented larger number and mass of tadpoles. Only in the lakes there was a positive correlation between the abundance of tadpoles and depth, amount of plant substratum and arthropods. The almost continuous reproduction of H. albopunctatus along the year is a rare behavior among frogs of southeastern Brazil. Tadpoles were more abundant in the swampy probably due to absence of predators such as teleosts. Unpalatable eggs and the use of refuges by the tadpoles may be the mechanisms allowing reproduction of H. albopunctatus in habitats with predatory teleosts.
Hypsiboas albopunctatus; reproduction; abundance; teleosts; palatability
