Amphibian Behavioral Adaptations

Communication in amphibians

Involves acoustic, chemical, visual, and tactile signals.

Primary communication mode in frogs

Acoustic signaling.

Advertisement call

Call used to attract mates and repel rivals.

Call structure

Species-specific frequency, duration, and pulse rate.

Female mate choice

Females select males based on call characteristics.

Call energetics

Calling is energetically expensive.

Calling sites

Selected to maximize sound transmission.

Satellite males

Silent males intercept females attracted to callers.

Release call

Emitted when clasped incorrectly.

Distress call

Produced when seized by a predator.

Territorial calls

Used to defend calling sites.

Chemical communication

Uses pheromones for mate recognition.

Pheromone sources

Skin glands and cloaca.

Visual signals

Bright coloration, body inflation, or movement.

Foot-flagging

Visual display using hind limbs in noisy environments.

Species using foot-flagging

Stream-dwelling frogs.

Tactile communication

Physical contact during courtship or amplexus.

Multimodal signaling

Use of multiple signal types simultaneously.

Environmental noise impact

Favors visual and tactile signals over acoustic.

Evolution of communication driven by

Habitat, predation pressure, and reproductive strategy.