Multimodal Signal Testing Reveals Gestural Tapping Behavior in Spotted Reed Frogs.

ABSTRACT: In the majority of anuran species, acoustic signals are the dominant mode of inter- and intrasexual communication. Male calls are always accompanied by the movement of a more or less conspicuous vocal sac-a potential visual cue. Reed frogs possess a striking vocal sac with a colorful patch of gland tissue clearly visible once the vocal sac is inflated during acoustic signaling. To investigate the visual signal function of vocal sac and gular gland, we presented male Spotted Reed Frogs (Hyperolius puncticulatus) with unimodal and multimodal signal playbacks of conspecific rivals in their natural habitat and recorded their behavioral responses. We found no difference in receiver response to unimodal advertisement call stimuli and to multimodal stimulus presentations of calls combined

SUBMITTER: Starnberger I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6070140 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature