In front of a mirror: visual displays may not be aggressive signals in nocturnal tree frogs

Visual Signals Are Not Performed More Frequently by Nocturnal Treefrogs in Naturally Noisier Environments

“…Males perch on marginal vegetation and call in chorus (Bastos et al, 2003a), and both advertisement and territorial calls were redescribed by Toledo et al (2007) and Furtado et al (2016). Toledo et al (2007), de Sá et al (2014), Furtado et al (2017), and Lourenço et al (2020) previously reported visual signaling by this species. Additionally, we observed males of B. albopunctata performing toe/finger trembling and limb lifting displays in the presence of a conspecific intruder male.…”

“…Thus, multimodal communication using multiple simultaneous signals can send redundant information, which increases accuracy (redundant multimodal signals hypotheses; Partan and Marler, 2005), or different information for the same or different receivers (Johnstone, 1996; Hebets and Papaj, 2005). For anurans, empirical evidence supports the idea that visual displays have redundant communication functions with acoustic signals (e.g., Furtado et al, 2017; Lourenço et al, 2020). For example, limb lifting and upright posture behaviors possibly have a similar functions to that of aggressive calls during agonistic interactions (territorial defense in Hylodes asper [Müller, 1924], Hödl and Amézquita, 2001; Micrixalus saxicola [Jerdon, 1853], Preininger et al, 2013; and Bokermannohyla sapiranga Brandão et al, 2012, Souza, 2014).…”

First record of visual displays in Scinax cardosoi (Anura: Hylidae)

“…Anurans also use seismic signals to communicate; in some cases, this may establish patterns of spacing in the chorus of the males (Narins 1990), as suggested in a study of an aboreal frog, (Cope, 1862) by Caldwell (2010). Combined, visual and vibrational signaling compose a bimodal signal, because male do not respond to visual stimuli only (Caldwell 2010). Furtado (2017 observed visual displays associated with agonistic interactions in three hylid species [ (Cope, 1862), (Boulenger, 1889), and Cope, 1862] and found that the visual stimulus of an intruder male in the territory of the resident male does not affect the rate of visual signaling.…”

“…Anuran visual communication has received more attention (2001) and Hartmann (2005). Several types of visual signals have been described in anuran species (e.g., Bertoluci 2002, Hartmann 2005, Giasson and Haddad 2006, Toledo 2007, Caldwell 2010, Barros and Feio 2011, Lipinski 2012, Caldart 2014, Furtado 2017 (Bokermann, 1968), (Lutz, 1925), (Cardoso andSazima, 1980), and(Cope, 1862). Two types of visual displays occur in the genus.…”

“…Two types of visual displays occur in the genus. Limb-lifting is documented for the four species ( ) and leg-kicking only for one species ( Hartmann 2005, Toledo and Haddad 2005, Barros and Feio 2011, Furtado 2017 (Moroti 2017). Despite its range over an enormous area in southeastern Brazil, the records of its populations are disjunct, and there is little information on the ecology and behavior of Here, we describe the visual displays observed in a population of in an Atlantic Forest fragment in southeastern Brazil.…”