Malagasy Amphibian Wildlife Trade Revisited: Improving Management Knowledge of the Trade

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 This work presents a study of organ size variation in Toad. The work is interesting and allows to increase the knowledge about the physiological adaptive characteristics of the species but also to environmental changes.  

In my opinion, the topic is original and relevant to the scientific community, specially in the field of biology, ecology and fisiology.  

 The conclusion is adequate to the study. 

The references are apropriate. 

The figures are apropriate and apelative. 

In the abstract - reinforce the aim of the study.

The article is well written, although it needs some organization, namely in the introduction. Reinforce the interest of this study for the scientific community.

However, I have some questions to be adressed 

How were the animals measured? 

Was the formalin at 4%? Actually, that's what it is. But it is usual to use 10% (assuming that formaldehyde at 39-40% is 100%, since formaline is a gas). 

How long was the fixation? 

 How were the animals captured? Can you refer to the state of preservation? 

 The discussion should begin with a short paragraph that frames the work. 

The discussion should be more organised and each point of the results explored and discussed.  

Is there work on other species? 

Can you comment on possible climate change and habitat alteration or invasion of new habitats and the ability of animals to adapt? 

How can temperature influence this? Can we detail and discuss some aspects? Why wasn't it measured?

There are several THREATS. Do we know what percentage is represented by illegal trafficking?

It would be important to give some emphasis to the conservation status of species and discuss a little more impact on biodiversity locally and globally. Can you add some measures of control? We can discuss the study's recommendations.

Congratulations on the study and for the courageous choice of topic.

I think the work is quite interesting and on a moderate number of animals and I recommend that it should be published

Author Response

see attached file for responses.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

I think the article can be accepted in its current form. Just two or three suggestions in the pdf that are not important.

The work highlights the current situation of the amphibian trade in Madagascar and shows the lack of congruence between citations and the IUCN Red List.

I have only missed an analysis of the fates of the different species, but not whether the information was available. In any case, the work as it is is complete.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

see attached file for responses.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx