Extended Vocal Repertoire in Hypsiboas punctatus (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

Male Hypsiboas punctatus emit seven different types of calls: three consist of repeated trains of notes, and four are single-note calls with frequency modulation. Behavioral observations allowed assigning the calls to specific functions: (1) and (2) advertisement calls (short and long duration), (3) territorial signaling, (4) courtship interactions, (5)–(7) aggressive interactions (aggressive, fighting, and release calls). All calls consist of a single note and possess harmonic structure. The harmonic structure from the advertisement call suggests a missing fundamental frequency. Advertisement calls exhibit inter- and intraindividual variation in the dominant frequency. Our results indicate that previous comparisons among vocalizations of H. punctatus were based on different types of calls.