Study on the preference of the Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii) for different covering shelter (2026)

Wang, M., Li, Y., Hu, N. et al.

Abstract

Optimizing shelter design is essential for improving the welfare and husbandry practices of Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii). This study examined shelter preferences by testing variables such as material, size, shape, color, height, and tunnel structure. The results revealed distinct behavioral preferences that have significant implications for ecosystem management. Adult frogs demonstrated a preference for shelters made of palm bark, specifically those that were larger, rectangular, brown, and elevated 10 cm above the ground. Juvenile frogs favored even larger, rectangular shelters, preferring those made of ceramic materials and positioned 5 cm above the ground. Both adult and juvenile frogs consistently avoided spherical tunnels, showing a preference for deeper tunnels, which indicates an important aspect of their behavioral ecology. These insights are essential for optimizing the breeding environment of R. dybowskii, potentially improving survival rates, reproduction, and broader conservation efforts. This study establishes a behavioral framework for optimizing captive management protocols of R. dybowskii, providing empirical data to refine anti-predatory adaptations in confinement settings and environmental enrichment strategies in commercial breeding operations.