Do running frogs (Kassina fusca) exhibit hyperextended variation in the sound pressure level of advertisement calls?

Authors

T Ulmar Grafe

Published in

Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology. Jul 30, 2026. Epub Jul 30, 2026.

Abstract

Acoustic distance estimation in vocal species is fundamental for effective decision-making for territory defense, mate attraction, and eavesdropping predators and parasites. The most straightforward distance cue is sound pressure level. However, variation in sound pressure level within individuals is not well documented, even less the call-by-call variation that may occur within individuals, even though modulation of call amplitude will promote responses to fluctuating ecological contexts and challenges. In this study, I report on the variable and unpredictable pattern of sound pressure levels in the advertisement calls of individual running frogs, Kassina fusca. The sound pressure levels of all advertisement calls within a single calling bout were recorded for nine males. Median peak SPL between males varied between 89.5 and 98.4 dB and showed highly significant differences between males. Furthermore, the maximum change in SPL between successive calls of a male ranged between 1.7 and 12.7 dB. Run charts of each male indicated random patterns of variation in SPL's during the recorded call bout. The results of this study are best explained as a mechanism to interfere with accurate distance estimation, either by competitors, parasites, or predators.

PMID:
42533172
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 31 Jul 2026.

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