Frequency of feeding and formation of bone growth marks in frog, Rana cyanophlyctis (Schn.).

ABSTRACT

Frogs, R. cyanophlyctis (n = 45) divided into four groups, were exposed to different feeding regimens (live guppies were used as food) such as, daily, alternate day, every fourth day and weekly feeding for 5 months, during wet months of the year (April-September). Two toe clippings were made, one at the beginning and the other at the termination of the experiment. Clipped toes were demineralized, and processed for histology. In 6 out of 45 frogs one line of arrested growth (LAG) was present in the phalangeal histology at the beginning of the experiment while, at the termination of experiment 34 out of 43 frogs exhibited one LAG each indicating that in 26 frogs LAG appeared freshly during the experimental period. The fact that LAGs are formed in regularly fed frogs suggests the humid weather/seasonal rainfall may play relatively important role than the feeding in cyclic bone growth and formation of growth marks in this frog.