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Has anyone noticed the back toe's of their frogs tapping on the ground? I've noticed my frogs doing this when they hunt. What does this mean?

We've discussed this several times without coming to any scientifically validated conclusion. They just all do it. It may be to scare up prey into moving. Darts only go for moving prey. I've had some imaginatitve theories, such as possible communication, but can't prove this. They may be just goosing up stuff like springtails out of the substrate. Maybe they are just keeping time to the rap in their heads. I hope someone takes it seriously enough to do a thesis on it one day.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

This is the first I've heard of this behavior; I wonder if it's related to why a leopard gecko waves his tail when stalking prey. I'm guessing excitement, but that's just me

Even fairly large anurans do it. I have seen some large Bufo toe tap...

Ed

I had only one experience that made me think it just might be a means of communication, although why frogs would attract other frogs to their prey, doesn't make much sense. I have told this story before, but am repeating it because it was interesting. I have a 135 gallon paludarium, divided with glass into sections, aquatic with small fish and two different land sections with four D. galactonotus in them. The bridge from one land section to another is a log over a "lagoon" and waterfall. One day, one single galac was on the left side and the others were over the bridge on the right land section. This particular galac accidentally caught a tiny platty fish fry out of the water and was tapping like mad. I think he was acutally "fishing" for the fruit flies that had fallen in. Within two minutes the other three had crossed the log and lined up along side of him. They looked like our local fishermen in their orange jump suits, and all they needed was a six pack of Bud to complete the picture. None ever caught a fish fry again that I witnessed, but I've always wondered what made them go over the bridge unless it was some sort of excitement on the other side that alerted them. It was the only time I couldn't put the tapping attraction to the other frogs down to anything but my own noisy intervention in feeding, when they all jump out and go for it. A single incident is not proof of a communication theory, but it is fun to think about.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

It may not be truly a type of communication but simply a signal that there is food present (ala vultures following each other down to a carcass after spotting one descending from a number of miles away).

Ed