Semaphoring in an earless frog: the origin of a novel visual signal |
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Authors: | Lindquist Eric D Hetherington Thomas E |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210–1293, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Social communication in anuran amphibians (frogs and toads) is mediated predominantly by acoustic signals. Unlike most anurans,
the Panamanian golden frog, Atelopus zeteki, lacks a standard tympanic middle ear and appears to have augmented its communicatory repertoire to include rotational limb
motions as visual signals, referred to here as semaphores. The communicatory nature of semaphoring was inferred from experimental
manipulations using mirrored self-image presentations and nonresident introductions. Male frogs semaphored significantly more
when presented with a mirrored self-image than with a nonreflective control. Novel encounters between resident males and nonresident
frogs demonstrated that semaphores were used directionally and were displayed toward target individuals. Females semaphored
frequently and this observation represents a rare case of signaling by females in a typically male-biased communicatory regime.
Semaphore actions were clearly linked to a locomotory gait pattern and appear to have originated as an elaboration of a standard
stepping motion.
Received: 19 March 1998 / Accepted after revision: 25 July 1998 |
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Keywords: | Visual signals Semaphoring Communication Bufonidae Atelopus zeteki |
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