Males To Blame: Only 1.4% Of Female Frog Calls Are Known

Much like in other species—no blame intended—male frogs dominate the soundscape with their loud calls, actively drowning out the quieter voices of females, whose vocalizations we’ve identified in only 1.4% of cases.

Surprisingly, new research from Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo reveals that scientists have documented the calls of only a tiny fraction of female frogs—meaning 98.6% of their vocalizations remain unknown.

How Female Frogs Are Adapting in a Male-Dominated Chorus

There’s a natural explanation for why male frogs are louder—it plays a crucial role in attracting mates and fending off rivals. Female frogs, on the other hand, are known for producing softer, quieter calls.

That said, female frogs have also developed some clever techniques to hold their own against the males, suggesting that vocal adaptation might lie ahead for them too.

However, the ability to hear female frogs—especially in relation to nearby males—is crucial for gaining deeper insight into how frogs communicate. Beyond simply eavesdropping on their social interactions, understanding their communication methods plays a key role in conservation efforts and in restoring populations in areas where imbalanced sex ratios hinder reproduction.

We discovered evidence of female vocalizations in more than 100 anuran species spanning 29 families, but most of the research remains anecdotal and seldom investigates the purpose of these calls, the researchers stated. Our study compiles current findings, introduces a standardized classification system, and highlights major challenges in the field. The goal is to address the male-focused bias in frog bioacoustics and enhance our understanding of amphibian communication, mating behavior, and evolution—promoting a more inclusive view of both sexes.

Although we can’t simply ask the males to quiet down and let the females vocalize, the research emphasizes the need for improved methods to detect female calls—likely through advancements in audio technology used during field studies. It also highlights the importance of recognizing that the loudest calls only reflect half of the population’s voice.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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