New Delhi: “Ribbit ribbit”- that comes to mind when we think of a frog saying something or croaking. Especially vocal during the monsoons, you are bound to see these frogs while taking a stroll in the rain or even hear them at night, with their calls reaching almost 100 decibels. But what do these ribbits signify, and why are these frogs so desperate to be heard?
Inhabiting various environments, from tropical forests to deserts, these little amphibians suddenly appear in the monsoons and use their croaks to communicate several important things—just like we do!
Let’s learn more about what the frogs are saying and why they are talking to one another. Only male frogs make mating and territorial calls, while male and female frogs emit environmental and distress calls.
How do frogs communicate?
Mating
Using their distinct calls, males produce croaks using a sac under their throat that amplifies their sound. This is used to attract mates of the same species. The female identifies and selects the male frog with the call that stands out from the cacophony of all the frogs croaking in a breeding colony. In some species, the females reply to the males’ calls, signalling healthy reproductive activity in a breeding colony.
Environment
Frogs are famously said to predict rain and can detect a fall in atmospheric pressure based on humidity cues before rainfall. That’s why the sound of frogs singing their hearts out during a dry spell is extremely relieving.
Territorial protection
Male frogs emit this sound with their mouths closed and their sacs inflated to drive away other males from their territory. It serves as a warning to other males and is used to establish their territory.
Distress
When in danger or grabbed by a predator, male and female frogs produce a distress call, which is higher pitched than all the other calls because it is produced with the mouth open. The distress call is used to warn other frogs and attempt to disorient the attacker.
This frog cannot call!
An exception to all the calling frogs is the coastal-tailed frog. This species does not possess vocal sacs, and given its habitat of noisy, fast-flowing streams, it could not be heard over the din of the water even if it wanted to.
Did you know that each frog species has a unique call, even with different accents from place to place? Why do they need these calls, which can sometimes be as loud as a rock concert from the front row? To know more about what the frogs are saying, read on. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
