Question

Amphibians were the early vertebrate communicators by sound on land. Discuss all aspects concerning the characteristics and functions of the advertisement call of Anura.

Answer 1

Males of many species of anurans alternate calls with those of their neighbors in a chorus. This pattern of calling reduces signal interference and may:

1) facilitate intermale spacing because males can better gauge the intensity of neighbors' calls if these calls do not overlap with their own;

2) help preserve species-specific temporal information in calls required to attract females;

3) make it easier for females to localize males in the chorus.