Tap Dancing Frogs: Posterior Toe Tapping and Feeding inDendrobates tinctorius

Abstract

Animals have myriad adaptations to help them hunt in the most efficient and effective manner. One mysterious behavior suspected to be related to hunting is the posterior toe tapping behavior of some frogs. Biologists and hobbyists alike have long noticed this behavior, but there is little empirical data to explain its function. To test the hypothesis that tapping is related to feeding we conducted a series of related experiments in the Dyeing poison frog, Dendrobates tinctorius. We suspected mechanostimulation of prey through vibrational stimuli from tapping might induce prey movement and thereby facilitate prey detection by frogs. First, we confirmed that tap rate was higher during feeding. We next asked whether frogs tapped more under conditions when vibrational contact between frogs and prey was possible. Finally, we asked whether D. tinctorius tap more on more vibrationally responsive surfaces and whether prey capture success was higher when tapping. While previous studies have noted an association between toe tapping and feeding behavior our work here is the first to do so quantitatively and experimentally, confirming the impressive speed with which frogs perform the behavior.

Physiological state matching in a pair bonded poison frog

“…activity, freezing, refuge use, approach), possibly behavioural state-matching occurred in unexamined behaviours (e.g. toe tapping or jumping) [ 51 , 52 ]. Alternatively, physiological state-matching might have occurred without behavioural state-matching.…”

Physiological state matching in a pair bonded poison frog

“…However, we found no evidence of coinciding behavioral state-matching. Although we examined a repertoire of behaviors relevant to stress and poison frog ecology (e.g., activity, freezing, refuge use, approach), possibly behavioral state-matching occurred in unexamined behaviors (e.g., toe tapping or jumping) (51,52). Alternatively, physiological state-matching might have occurred without behavioral state-matching.…”