FIELD STUDIES ON REPRODUCTIVE-BEHAVIOR IN 2 DART-POISON FROG SPECIES (EPIPEDOBATES-FEMORALIS, EPIPEDOBATES-TRIVITTATUS) IN AMAZONIAN PERU

The reproductive behaviour of two syntopic dendrobatid species, Epiped obates femoralis and Epipedobates trivittatus were studied in two sepa rate field studies in Amazonian Peru. Males of both species defended t erritories against calling conspecifics; females were not territorial. Pair-formation, courtship, and mating took place in the territories o f the males. Females entered territories and approached calling males who attempted to lead females to oviposition sites. Females rejected m ales during courtship by leaving males or refusing nest sites. Males n ever rejected females. Brood care was performed by males only. The rep roductive behaviour of the two species varied in length and pattern of courtship, oviposition behaviour and male brood-care behaviour.