Breeding of Fea's Treefrog - Rhacophorus (Polypedates) feae.

(Anna A. Bagaturova, Mikhail F. Bagaturov.Leningrad zoo, St. Petersburg, Russia)

Genus Rhacophorus H.Kuhl and J.C. van Hasselt, 1822*

*Notes. Some species of Rhacophorus also referred to as Polypedates, Aquixalus andKurixalus according to different authors (Orlov and Ho, 2 005; Frost, 2004, Ohler et al, 2000 etc).

Type Rh. Moschata Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1822 (= Hyla Reinwardtii Schlegel, 1840)The Genus comprised by near 60 species (Orlov and Ananieva, 2007).

Species Rhacophorus (Polypedates) feae (Boulengher, 1893)

Types: MSNG, BMNH. Type territory: “Thao, northern Burma (=Myanmar)”

Distribution: South China (Yunnan), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar,North Thailand, Viet Nam (North and South – 1 locale).

Observation in nature: In fact it is known from Thailand (Fang Distrikt, Chieng MaiProvinz) (ref - Michael Cota), North (Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces) and South (Kon Tumprovince) Vietnam (Nikolai Orlov, Roman Nazarov, Nguen Tien Tao, Chris Mattison, ThomasZiegler, others).

Picture 1. Adult male Rhacophorus feae. Photo (c) M. Bagaturov

Natural history of species in Vietnam (by Orlov and Ananieva, 2007)Inhabits mountain range on 1200-2000 m above see level. Found mostly in primary

forests but may be found also near the villages.Breeds in May-June on quiet reaches of mountain streams densely covered with bamboo,

banana trees and large Aroid plants. Calling males usually occupy plants’ leaves, big branchesand rock surfaces around the pool at a stand of 1.5-3 m. Most breeding pools are deep and allowsadult specimens to hide in which they do readily under any thread.

Nests usually constructed not high above the pools (less than half a meter) on rocks,bamboo and bush branches, sometimes near the water on the ground.

Picture 2. Group of Rhacophorus feae adult males in terrarium of Leningrad zoo. Photo (c) M.Bagaturov

Description. Very large, presumably the largest arboreal species of frog of world fauna.Records listed for female of Litoria infrafrenata for 14 cm of TL as the largest.

Specimens kept in Leningrad zoo:- largest male, cca 13. 6-13.8 cm,- female, cca 15.4 –15.6 cm.

Coloration is of different shades of green or dark olive-brown. Some specimens (dependingon the local population) may have various large blotches on their back.

Two large longitudinal ridges alongside lateral fold of the head in adult are characteristic ofthe species differentiated it from other giant treefrog – Rhacophorus (Polypedates) dennisiifound in the same areas in South China and Vietnam. Body bit depressed not as rounded as inother closely related species.

Captivity sources known. Trades. Known just from several collections in captivity.Successful keeping (over 1 year) known only from 3 collections in Russia:

- Leningrad zoo, St. Petersburg (Mikhail Bagaturov and Anna Bagaturova)- Zoocom Ltd., St. Petersburg (Evgeny Ribaltovsky)- ZooFond, Moscow (Rustam Berdiev)Many farm bred young specimens (Hanoi Amphibian station, Vietnam and poss. other

sources) as well as WC subadult to adult frogs traded to private collections and institutions butmost of the frogs lost due to bad condition, skin diseases and not proper husbandry.Since now no any groups of Fea's Treefrog outside from Vietnam and Russia are known from

any collections. No captive breeding of this species is known.

Adaptation of frogs in captivity. Rhacophorus (Polypedates) feae is very hard species toadapt in captivity. There are several reasons for that.

i) poor condition of the specimens due to a transportation (dehydration, skin diseasesetc.)

ii) needs of law temperatures of keeping conditionsiii) nervous (nearly hysterical especially in adult females) nature

To avoid the above listed problems large heavily planted tank with big layer of water andmany hides (underwater and arboreal) is needed to adopt frogs. Adaptation may take severalmonths or over the year especially in females. It is also very good to cover 2 or 3 of the terrariumwalls with black paper or other material overall to make frogs feel more secure. No day lights orartificial light sources shall be used for them for the adaptation period.

With some time, after 6 months or so some males may adopt enough well to be handled withcare but no females to our experience.

Picture 3, 4. Average size adult male Rhacophorus feae on a palm (on left), pair of frogs in processof amplexus. Photo (c) M. Bagaturov

Keeping and breeding experience in Leningrad zoo (Dep. of Insectarium and Amphibians)

Here I will describe the success of the Department of Insectarium and Amphibians ofLeningrad zoo in keeping and breeding these beautiful giants of the tree frogs.

The Department of Insectarium and Amphibians of Leningrad zoo is relatively newdepartment in zoo of city of Saint-Petersburg (Leningrad zoo) was established in the Year offrog, 2008. Since that time the collection grows to over 50 species of different amphibians of all3 groups and a number of species are in breeding, like Paramesotriton laoensis, Dendrobatestinctorius, Trachycephalus resinifictrix, Rhacophorus annamensis, Kurixalus odontotarsus,Rhacophorus orlovi, Theloderma corticale, T. stellatum, T. bicolor, T. asperum. Rhacophorusfeae is the one species which one planned for breeding in the zoo. Developing the breedingtechnique for the species allows breeding some other larger mountain rhacophorid species likeRhacophorus (Polypedates) dennysii, R. duboisi, Polypedates dugritei, some others.

On the beginning of September 2009 a group of 5 adult frogs was donated to the zoo byprivate person. They were brought from Vietnam (Sa Pa population).

After the 1.5 months of acclimatization and quarantine as of described in Adaptation offrogs in captivity chapter a pair was identified and given to Evgeny Ribaltovsky (Zoocom Ltd.)for husbandry.

Picture 5, 6. Foam nest of Rhacophorus feae in terrarium at Leningrad zoo. Picture on leftshowing ruler for measurement. Photo (c) M. Bagaturov

Among left group of 3 after some time all was identified as males. During the year 2009-2010 males found calling many times. They produce law loud call.

They housed in very large vertical tank (150 cm high x 80 cm x 60 cm) filled with 30 cmdeep water, several big tree trunks and half of bamboo perches. Several big leafed artificialplants were placed to form arboreal hides for frogs. Average temperature in the room was 18-21C during the warm period and 15-16 C during the cold period of year. They fed exclusively withimagoes of house crickets (Acheta domestica) as all other food sources (locust, mice) rejected.

In late October 2010 a pair of adult frogs was obtained from another private keeper inMoscow (presumed to be from the same population from Vietnam). During the quarantine malefound to develop keratoleucoma on one of the eyes, when separated from female and was curedusing the complex medication (see Bagaturov, 2010).

During this period the temperature of amphibian room where the males kept as well asfemale solely in separate terrarium maintain at average 16 C during the day with night drops to10-12 C.

On December, 12 2010 females was placed into the terrarium with group of males. Thefollowing week males found vocalizing. On December 14 male found to trying the amplexuswith other male which produce “release-calls”. The same evening in the terrarium the amplexuspair was found.

In the morning, December 15, a foam nest built during the night was found. It was placedon the terrarium wall attached to bamboo above 25-27 cm from water level. Nest parameters:

- 18 cm high x 14 cm width x 10 cm deep (in the deepest place).Egg mass uniformly distributed in the nest observed of yellow color 0.4 mm diameter

(those seen on the surface). Those eggs found were not developed and though not to be fertile.On evening December, 18 part of the nest (lower part, 1/3) was removed into the separatecontainer and placed above the water (floated) (= Group I).

Picture 7, 8. Developed eggs and larvae of Rhacophorus feae into the foam nest (on left) andemerged larvae showing yell-sac and gills. Photo (c) M. Bagaturov

On December, 19 early morning first tadpoles with yell-sacs were found fall into thewater actively moving in Group I. The container was replaced outside the cold room at constanttemperature 23-23.5 C.

Other part of the nest was taken and placed into the 2d container left in the parents’ room(= Group II) under the lower temperatures. Remains of the nest left into the parents’ enclosurefor incubation let the tadpoles fall into the water during manual misting of the terrarium (=GroupIII). In Groups II, III tadpoles found to be developed as well.

A total of cca 300 larvae emerged from the nest (however it is very hard to count tadpolesin Group 3). In average 65-70% of eggs deposited in the foam nest thought to be fertile.

Raising of larvae.

During the day (December, 19) tadpoles were fall from the nest in all three groups. But inGroup I at a higher temperature yell-sacs are already dissolved and gills were developed unlikein both Groups I and II.

Picture 9. Tadpoles of Rhacophorus feae of day 3 feeding on fish food. Photo (c) M. Bagaturov

On December, 21-22 all tadpoles emerged from nest. Tadpoles of Groups I and IIremoved into the larger containers. Aquarium compressors were used for water aeration sinceDecember, 19.

December 22, 2010 – tadpoles in Group I already show no gills. Aquarium fish flakesdropped into water for feeding.

Since now as it was expected tadpoles in Group I kept at a higher temperature developingfaster than those of Groups II and III left in cool room.

The following weeks tadpoles of Group I actively feeding and increasing their sizerapidly unlike their siblings of Groups II, III.

Will be continue…