Ecologie de la reproduction et du développement larvaire d’un amphibien déserticole, Bufo pentoni Anderson, 1893, au Sénégal

The breeding ecology of Bufo pentoni, a sahelian toad, was studied near Dagana, Senegal, during the 1975 rainy season. Females lay their eggs 24 hours after the first rains, when the temporary ponds are filled. Later on, further laying occur after heavy rains during the three months of the annual rainy season. Embryonic development is very rapid, most tadpoles hatching about 30 hours after laying. The larval period does not last for more than 9-11 days, in field conditions. All tadpoles living in a same pond grow at the same speed, whereas those living in different ponds may grow at different speeds. Such a pattern of development is considered as adaptative to the extreme seasonality and unpredictibility of the Sahelian environment