Discoglossus pictus spawns spontaneously at intervals during the summer under laboratory conditions. During the winter oviposition and pairing can be induced by the injection of chorionic gonadotrophin. The hatching rate is good and there is a low mortality among the tadpoles. Metamorphosis occurs comparatively early and regularly, mainly during the fifth and sixth weeks after hatching. The young toads eat small flies avidly. Under laboratory conditions, however, they lose condition in a month or two and ultimately die, apparently from some deficiency disease. Adult toads are easily maintained on worms, slugs, newborn mice, etc. The tadpoles thrive well on raw liver or dried liver powder. The regularity with which metamorphosis takes place makes Discoglossus tadpoles ideal material for the demonstration of the anti-thyroid activity of thiourea and related substances.

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discoglossus antithyroid activity

H. M. Bruce A. S. Parkes,.Observations on Discoglossus pictus Otth. 134 (874),37-52.

H. M. Bruce A. S. Parkes,"Observations on Discoglossus pictus Otth" 134

H. M. Bruce A. S. Parkes,"Observations on Discoglossus pictus Otth"