Translated from
the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2012/05/22/005187.html
May 22, 2012
A rhacophorus arboreus egg sticking out from a tree branch. (May 22, 9:30AM)
The Daikō Temple
(Chief Priest Ariga Sadou) of Fukuchiyama City's Shōmyō Temple is known as "the
temple of the tree frogs." On the 22nd, egg-laying began. In an average
year, egg-laying begins at this time and lasts until the end of June.
Before and after
the annual summer rain season, frogs arrive from the mountains behind the main
temple, forming and laying their eggs in the trees of the surrounding lake.
During this period, the males and females come to the area issuing mating calls.
Afterwards, the females climb the lake’s tree branches. Hanging on to the
branch with her body enveloped in a secretion of meringue-like
bubbles, she buries half of herself into the nest and begins laying the eggs.
Being appointed
Chief Priest of the temple in 1988, Ariga (Age 51) held an interest for the
frogs, continuing to protect and observe them to this day.
This month began
the current observation. At about 6:30 AM on the 22nd, the first egg-nest was
spotted. Around day break, the frog was observed laying eggs.
Within a week,
tadpoles will hatch, falling into the river below. Chief Priest Ariga
commented: "Before, we would have about 30-40 eggs per year. But lately,
they've decreased to about 15 per year. As the humidity increases from the
rainfall, we'll get a greater number of eggs."
Original text:
モリアオガエルが産卵 正明寺の大興寺で今年第１号の卵塊
2012年5月22日
写真＝木の枝に出来た卵塊（２２日午前９時３０分ごろ）
モリアオガエルの寺として知られる福知山市正明寺、大興寺（有賀祖道住職）で２２日、産卵が始まった。例年並みの産卵開始で、６月終わりごろまで続く。
毎年梅雨前後に、本堂そばの池の木に、裏山からやってきたモリアオガエルが卵塊をつくり産卵する。この時期になると池の周りに下りてきた雄が雌を呼ぶため鳴き出す。あとからきた雌が、池の上に枝を垂らしている木に登り、体液を出してメレンゲ状の泡をつくり、体半分を埋めると産卵を始める。
１９８８年に同寺住職に就いた有賀住職（５１）がカエルに興味を持ち、ずっと保護、観察を続けている。
今シーズンは５月に入ってから観察を始め、２２日午前６時３０分ごろに第１号の卵塊を見つけた。夜明けごろに産卵したと見られる。
１週間ほどでオタマジャクシになり、下の池に落ちる。有賀住職は「以前は３０－４０個ほど卵塊が出来たこともありましたが、近年は１５個ほどに減っています。雨が降って湿気が増えると、卵塊の数が多くなってきます」と話している。
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