Âge individuel, longévité et dynamique de croissance osseuse chez un amphibien vivipare, Nectophrynoides occidentalis (Anoure, Bufonidé)

Abstract

Skeletochronology, used to assess some life history traits in the viviparous African toad, enables us to determine that longevity in natura does not exceed 5 years in females and reaches at least 2 years in males. After sexual maturity, reached at four months, the rate of osteogenesis decreases, as probably does body growth. In this study we discovered a strong endosteal bone resorption in long bone cortices in both males and females. This phenomena only occurs during the first resting period. This period occurs from October (individuals of 5 months old) to March (individuals of 10 months old). During this time toads are underground and their metabolism is thought to be low. The origin of such an endosteal resorption remains more or less unknown.