Reproduction in the Herpetofaunal Community of a Banksia Woodland Near Perth, W.a.

Abstract

Twelve species of lizards (Agamidae, Scincidae, Pygopodidae) and three species of frogs (Leptodac- tylidae) comprise the herpetofaunal community of a Banksia woodland under a mediterranean-type climate in Western Australia. The reptiles bred in September-November and laid eggs in early summer. The requirement of surface water for tadpole development for two of the frog species restricted their breeding time to winter and necessitated their migration from the study area, where no water was avail- able. The third species of frog, Myobatrachus gouldii, lacks an aquatic stage. Its reproductive pattern coincided with neither that of the reptiles nor the other frogs. Collections of most species in the com- munity were not equally divided between sexes. For reptiles, this possibly was owing to differential trapping of the sexes. The very high frequency of capture of female frogs, other than those of M. gouldii, was probably related to differential dispersal of the sexes from breeding areas. The distribution of the percentage frequency of snout-vent lengths for six species of lizards suggests that individuals did not breed until their second year.