Clutch size in wild populations of <em>Alytes muletensis</em>

Abstract

Clutch size of genus Alytes presents strong inter- and intra-specific variability. The Mallorcan midwife toad (A. muletensis) is a threatened endemism of the island of Mallorca (Spain), and has the smallest clutch size of the genus. Most of the previously published clutch size information was obtained from animals breeding in captivity. In this study we analysed a large number of clutches from wild populations, and we compared their size (number of eggs) with previously published data from both captive and wild populations. Our results showed that clutch sizes of wild males carrying a single clutch were similar to those observed in captivity. However, multiple clutches were more common in the wild than in captivity.