The reproductive potential of larger females, producing larger 

 egg msses and thereby more abundant larvae, is negated by their pronpt 

 removal from the reproductive pools. Ftemales of smaller size produ^ 

 oHL^'n^Slit ^^ recruitment potential, given the high level 



_ In certain, if not all, areas of Bangladesh in which Rana tigrina 

 ^ists, females are reproductively nature by mid-May and reSiH so until 

 at least early July The data do not indicate if Rana tigrina oviposits 

 single or multiple clutches throughout its geographi^range or if the 

 frequency of spawning varies regionally. In females from the Districts 

 of Mymensingh and Sylhet the field data suggest that multiple spawning 

 may occur during lengthy and unabated nonsoonal seasons. In other dis- 

 tricts in which the monsoon is of shorter duration, multiple spawning is 

 not indicated by the data. ^ t- ^ 



The sex-ratios of the populations examined varied thusly (males- 

 females): 51.17 - 48.83%, 45.07 - 56.93%, 84.0 - 16.0%, 59.3 - 40 0% 

 67.0 - 33.0%, 40.0 - 60.0%, 52.1 - 47.9%, and 63.0 - 37.0%. 



Males are predcminant in the larger population samples and females 

 in the smaller. Males emerge before the females after the advent of the 

 monsoons, and establish tenporary breeding territories. The ceaseless 

 nocturnal chorusing and intensified breeding colors attract predators 

 and collectors. Thus, the sex-ratio strongly favors males in all popu- 

 lation saitples obtained from mid-May to late June. The females, emerg- 

 ing later fron estivation than males, are voiceless and less spectacu- 

 larly colored. Tliey are more easily overlooked by predators and col- 

 lectors. The sex-ratios of the population sanples are strongly biased 

 in that collectors seek or are attracted to the males. 



The percentage of gravid females of all fonales examined varied 

 from 38.93% to 98.0% in large population sanples (Table 1). The lesser 

 percentage is derived from females perhaps obtained prior to the begin- 

 ning of the permissible collecting period and retained in holding tanks. 

 The higher percentages indicate that a significant number of reproduc- 

 tively mature fatales are removed frcm the breeding populations. 



POCO PREFERENCES 



In Bangladesh, a preliminary analysis of the stomach contents of 

 '^^'^ tigrina was undertaken on ^>eciirens collected in the Districts of 

 Mymensingh, Chittagong, Noakhali, Sylhet, Khulna, Jessore, Rangpur and 

 Bogra. 



One-hundred- ten individuals vere examined, ranging in snout-vent 

 length from 33 nm to 140 mm. The mean (42.7%) ranged from 61 irni to 

 90 im, followed by 31 mm to 60 mm (31.8%), 91 nm to 120 ran (17.2%), 

 121 ran to 150 ran (7.2%) and 151 ran to 180 ran (0.9%). 



