Caring glassfrog fathers have smaller testes

Males of the glassfrog species Hyalinobatrachium valerioi are very dedicated fathers. Francesca Angiolani - An international team of researchers including the University of Bern shows in a new study that male glassfrogs that care for their offspring have smaller testes than males of species that do not provide any brood care. This indicates an evolutionary trade-off between sperm production and parenting. Living in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, frogs of the glassfrog family are fascinating because of their transparent skin on their belly, which reveals their internal organs. However, it is not only the appearance of these amphibians that is remarkable, but also their social behavior. In many - but not all - glassfrog species, the males remain with the clutch after mating and guard and care for their offspring. In a new study, an international team, including researchers from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Bern, shows that there is a link between this paternal care and the testes size of glassfrogs.