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Dr M Guille, University of Portsmouth

Non-invasive identification of individual Xenopus by photography and image processing

Aim

Over 10,000 frogs are used in the UK each year, often to produce eggs and embryos to study development. The aim of this project is to find a more humane way of identifying individual animals. Currently, techniques such as toe clipping, threading tags through the skin and implanting microchips are used but these are all harmful to the animals.

Method

Preliminary data suggests that individual frogs can be identified using digital imaging and computers. The patterns on the backs of the animals and the vein patterns on their feet can be measured. This research will develop the system to decide whether a single measurement or a combination is needed to identify the frogs and find out whether the markings change over time.

Implications for the 3Rs

An automated imaging system for identifying the frogs will be a refinement over the current identification techniques and reduce the level of suffering experienced by the animals.