Age of sexual maturity of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis frogs in a rearing environment

The aim of this study was to determine the age of sexual maturity of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, the most commonly consumed frog in Côte d'Ivoire, under rearing conditions. Histological analyses were carried out on gonads taken from farmed male and female frogs aged between 06 and 12 months. The results showed that the gonado-somatic ratios of males (0.045 to 0.73%) are much lower than those of females (0.22 to 17.03%). Histological sections indicate that the age of full sexual maturity of males and females under rearing conditions is 10.5 months. At this age there is a massive presence of spermatozoa in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules in males and a high number of mature oocytes (V and VI) in females. Determining the age at which Hoplobatrachus occipitalis frogs reach sexual maturity will enable future frog breeders to build up stocks of broodstock and thus plan breeding periods.]'