Studi Adaptasi dan Perilaku Katak Bertanduk (Megophrys montana Kuhl & van Hasselt 1822) di Penangkaran Taman Safari Indonesia I Cisarua Jawa Barat

Abstract

Indonesian safari park (TSI) as conservation institution in Indonesian is planning to carried out captive breeding prog as part of ex-situ amphibian conservation. One of the species selected is Megophrys montana. The pathogen fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been found in frogs of West Java, therefor effort to captive breeding frogs from the wild must include prevention of Bd infection by sterilization. The aims of this research is to look frog condition during captivity period after collection until pre sterilization, effectiveness sterilization of the pathogen fungi Bd to the survival ability and adaptation in captive breeding of M. montana in captivity after sterilization. Research is carried out in TSI on July-September 2012. Data collected using ad libitum sampling method. Frogs were sterilizied using Itraconazole (Sporanox 10 mg / m l ) 0.01% on 0.6% salinity applied on the skins for 5 minutes / days for 11 days. Number of frogs collected are six (two female and four male). All frogs were put in pairs on separates aquarium. However, on the 6th day one frogs were missing presumably by cannibalism. Therefor the remaining of five frogs are put in separate aquarium on the next day. All frogs in captivity were observed with normal behaviour as before sterilization. Most of M. montana individual showed quiet behavior during setrilization (87%). The function of terrarium is only sufficient for maintaining the lives of individual frogs. The size of terrarium at TSI was less than one meter which is not enough for the movement of M. montana. There is also differences of humidity condition between its natural habitat and terrarium, therefor there is a need to add rain chamber for artificial rain. The condition of all frogs in captivity during adaptation was normal and healthy. On average M. montana start feeding on the 4th day to the 6th day with a daily increases amount of cricket. Nearly all fros showed an increase body mass except one male individual which shown 0.5 g on 2nd week. However the same frog showed an increase of body mass. The low result of feed convertion rate indicates that the efficiency of feed were use for body weight growth. M. montana number 5 had a lowest feed convertion rate and the highest growth of body weight compared others. M. montana were active at 06.00 pm until 05.00 am. On morning and afternoon, all frogs slept under rock, wood and coconut shell. Generally all frogs will move by 07.00 pm until 10.00 pm. Four frogs spent time mostly under a rock and wood, where as male frog number 3 mostly used litters during the resting period. Frogs start calling on the 7th day in terrarium. Calls were emitted all day long and mostly heard on 02.00 pm until 05.00 pm