A new study by scientists documented and analyzed the unusual sounds frogs make at low frequencies. Scientists can’t yet answer exactly what this is, but they already have some guesses.
In the bustling and incredibly vibrant world of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, scientists have discovered the unusual survival tactics of the clay stealer frog. This small creature, which lives in tropical forests, has a special method of calling for help in times of danger, using sounds that humans cannot hear. Emitting something akin to an ultrasonic scream, the frog communicates at frequencies that can be detected by many predators and other animals, but they are silent to us, IFLScience writes.
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The discovery was made possible through careful research in which scientists gently held the frogs by their hind legs, simulating predatory attacks. This led them to assume a defensive stance, throwing their heads back and partially covering their mouths before sending out the ultrasonic distress signal. Some parts of these calls fall within the range of human hearing, but they mostly extend into ultrasonic frequencies up to 44 kilohertz, inaudible to us. The behavior and the sound itself were recorded on film, marking the first such achievement in the study of amphibian communication.
The purpose of these high-frequency sounds remains a mystery to scientists. They may serve to deter a variety of predators, such as bats, rodents, and small primates that can hear these frequencies. Alternatively, frog calls may be a clever way to summon larger predators by targeting attackers. This intriguing possibility suggests that distress calls may help frogs by attracting predators to their prey, adding a layer of complexity to the dynamics of the rainforest food web, the study authors suggested.
A team of scientists led by Ubirat Ferreira Souza plans to study this phenomenon in more detail, hoping to find out whether other frog species use ultrasonic calls as a defense mechanism. This research not only sheds light on complex communication strategies in the animal kingdom, but also raises new questions about interactions between predators and prey in one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.