The Herpetological Journal

pp. 249-257
Authors: Morais, Alessandro R.; Batista, Vinícius G.; Gambale, Priscilla G.; Signorelli, Luciana & Bastos, Rogério P.

Abstract: Acoustic signals are the most important communication mechanism for many anuran species. However, acoustic parameters can be influenced by several factors (e.g., body size, air temperature and social context). In the present study, we investigated the influence of the air temperature, morphological characteristics and distance between calling males on acoustic parameters of Dendropsophus minutus. In addition, we studied the entropy values of calls, acoustic variability (both within and among males) and the potential for individual discrimination. The observations were carried out between January 2009 and April 2011, in Piracanjuba, Goiás, central Brazil. Males of D. minutus emitted single and compound calls, composed by notes A, B and C. We observed that vocalizations may be influenced by snout-vent length, body mass, air temperature and distance between calling males (P<0.05 in all cases). Dominant frequency was the only variable classified as a static property. There was higher variability among males than within males in all parameters measured. Individual males of D. minutus may be discriminated by their vocalizations, with dominant frequency being the main acoustic variable used in individual discrimination. We conclude that the high variation in D. minutus calls might be important during mate choice process.

Keywords: VOCALIZATIONS, ENTROPY, DYNAMIC PROPERTY, INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION, BRAZILIAN SAVANNA, STATIC PROPERTY