They say you need to encounter numerous frogs before finding your prince charming, yet certain female frogs are breaking the norm. This article from thetinderblog unveils how female frogs have discovered a method to assert authority over their selection of partners. The piece delves into a recent study conducted by researchers at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany. The researchers have unearthed that female frogs frequently resort to remarkable tactics to evade unwanted suitors, including feigning their demise.
Some frog and toad species engage in explosive breeding behavior. This implies that they have brief reproductive periods, necessitating them to congregate in large numbers for mating. Hundreds, or even thousands, of creatures assemble to breed for a few days to a few weeks, usually during the spring season. However, certain females may take longer to reach maturity and do not breed annually. Consequently, there is an imbalance in gender ratios, with males outnumbering females, resulting in intense competition for mates. Multiple males may vie for a single female, forming a mating ball. Unfortunately, this forced attention often leads to the drowning of the female frog. Formerly, it was believed that females were defenseless against these unwelcome advances; however, researchers have discovered that they possess mechanisms to protect themselves.
One common tactic employed by female frogs to rebuff persistent males is to rotate their bodies, causing the male to be positioned beneath them and submerged in water. This action compels the male to relinquish its grasp to avoid drowning and enables the female to breathe. Another observed strategy involves using vocalizations or calls. Amid the mating frenzy, male frogs may erroneously grab other males. In such instances, the male at the bottom emits a “release” call to convey to the male atop that his efforts are futile. Female frogs mimic this release call with a deep, low-frequency vocalization akin to a grunt to indicate their lack of interest in mating. Additionally, females express their discontent through a higher-pitched squeak.
In extreme cases, researchers documented instances where females simulate death to deter aggressive males. This behavior, known as tonic immobility, entails the female frogs stiffening their limbs and extending them away from their bodies, remaining motionless until the male releases them. Scientists speculate that tonic immobility also serves as a stress response, with corticosterone levels in the frogs’ blood positively correlating to the duration of immobility. Observations have revealed that staying motionless is more advantageous than resisting undesirable males since any movement by the female may attract additional males, heightening the likelihood of a potentially perilous mating ball formation. Fortunately, avoidance behaviors have proven successful according to the researchers, with a combination of strategies resulting in the escape of 46% of female frogs in the study. The act of feigning death may have indeed saved their lives. Regrettably, for certain frog species like Rhinella probosc
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