Baseline and after stressor salivary corticosterone levels in the saliva and plasma of the guttural toad (Sclerophrys gutturalis)

Glucocorticoids have been widely used as a physiological marker of stress, and elevated baseline glucocorticoids levels in vertebrates have been associated with environmental changes. The use of minimally invasive sampling techniques and analysis of non-traditional sample types to monitor stress in wild populations has increased due to the importance of understanding how animals respond to environmental disturbances. This data provide validated corticosterone (CORT) measurements in the saliva and plasma of the guttural toad (Sclerophrys gutturalis) using samples collected in the field (locations: 34°01′S, 18°25′E, 29°47′S, 31°01′E) and after standardized stress protocols (dehydration for 24h + restrain for 24h). Samples were obtained from January to April 2019. Baseline samples were obtained in the field. Afterward, the animals were brought to the lab, subjected to the stress protocol followed by blood and saliva sampling. Blood samples were taken through cardiac puncture under 3 min of manipulation and saliva samples were obtained by gently inserting a previously weighted cotton ball inside the mouth of the toad for 30 seconds