Vol. 78 2026

ARTICLES

Continuous Improvement of Antipredator Behaviour and Evidence of Long-Term Memory for Predatory Cues in Toad Tadpoles

Santosh M. Mogali*, Bhagyashri A. Shanbhag & Srinivas K. Saidapur

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*Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, Karnataka State, India; E-mail: santoshmogali21@gmail.com, santoshmogali@rediffmail.com

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb78.3.003115

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Abstract

The experiment was designed to investigate whether tadpoles of the Asian common toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus have an ability to learn and memorise predator’s cues. We exposed D. melanostictus tadpoles to water conditioned with predator cues from tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus at different intervals (i.e., on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and after a gap of 3 days i.e. on 7th day). The results showed that, on the first day of exposure, toad tadpoles exhibited antipredator behaviour (i.e., overall reduced swimming activity and high bursts in speed) to conditioned water and they improved their antipredatory responses on subsequent days of exposure to conditioned water. After a gap of 3 days (i.e., on 7th day) they still remembered their earlier encounter and exhibited a strong antipredator behaviour. The present study demonstrates that tadpoles of D. melanostictus are able to learn and remember predator cues.

Key words

Antipredator behaviour, chemical cues, learning, prey and predator, memory, tadpole

How to Cite
Mogali S. M., Shanbhag B. A. & Saidapur S. K. 2026. Continuous Improvement of Antipredator Behaviour and Evidence of Long-Term Memory for Predatory Cues in Toad Tadpoles. Acta zoologica bulgarica 78.

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