Inflammation in digits of unmarked and toe-tipped wild hylids

Context. The use of toe-tipping (removal of the toepad) in mark–recapture studies of anurans is controversial because of the unknown riskof infectionand potential impact on animal survival. Aims.We compared theinflammation rates of digits in unmarked and toe-tipped wild hylidfrogs ( Litoria genimaculata, L. nannotis, L. rheocola and Nyctimystes dayi) to determine if marked amphibians present with a greater proportion of affected digits than unmarked animals. Methods. We examined marked and unmarked frogs captured on streams in northern Queensland over a 12-month period for phalangealinflammation. Key results. Of 777 unmarked frogs, 0.4% presented with digits showing inflammation because of natural causes. After