Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello:
I don't know a whole lot about frogs and had a question for you experts. Are male frogs the only ones that call? Do females of any species vocalize? Also, do males only call during breeding season to attract females or will they call during territory disputes or for other reasons? Thanks for your help. I've been asked this question a couple times before and have been wondering what the correct answer is.

Some females have response calls to males. So in some species, the females can respond to the males during breeding season. Usually it is only the males, but in some species the females can.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Thanks.

But do males only call for breeding purposes? Or do they vocalize during other times as well? I feel like I read something somewhere about males vocalizing during weather changes or something (not related to rainy season/breeding season).

They could I suppose. Most of the calling I see is due to rain, which is basically the coming of the breeding season. The frogs also can have alarm calls (you know about this if you have ever scared bull or leopard frogs on the bank of a body of water) or calls to say "Hey...I'm a male too" when it's the breeding season and a frenzied male jumps on another one in an attempt to breed. But it would be my guess that MOST calls, even due to changes in weather, are pretty much related to breeding.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

I highly recommend the book in the link below. It will probably have all of the answers to questions you will have in a very easy to read text. I'm guessing you do some type of educational programming, in which case an easy to read and cheap book is always welcomed.

Frogs are capable of the following calls: amplexus calls, reciprocal calls, rain calls, and distress calls, descriptions of the different calls are provided on page 88. Also do not forget that the most popularly known call is not a breeding call, it is more precisely labeled as an advertisement call since males are not only communicating with potential female mates, but also communicating with neighboring males with whom they are competing.
click here for the link

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Thanks for the info. Funny thing is, I have that book you linked to. When I clicked the link I thought, "Oh yeah. Why didn't I think to check that?" So I will look at it when I get home.

I've always assumed that vocalizations were not just made during breeding activity but wasn't sure.

Some males emit a "release" call, if a fellow male grabs onto them and attempts to mate. It's kinda like saying, "dude, I'm not a chick!" In leopard frogs, it sounds like a short series of grunts; in american toads, it's more squeaklke.
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