video: Spadefoot toad males of two species (S. bombifrons and S. multiplicata) have distinct mating calls. Females can use these calls to determine a male's species identity. Hybrid males (whose call is in the audio) that are produced from matings between the species also attempt to attract females. Hybrid calls are intermediate in nature between their parents. Although hybrids try to attract mates, hybrid males are potentially sterile. Spadefoot toad males of two species (S. bombifrons and S. multiplicata) call to attract mates, but do so in different ways. The call and behavior of S. bombifrons is dramatically different from the other species of spadefoot -- S. multiplicata -- that breeds in the same locations as S. bombifrons. In these movies, note that S. bombifrons (video 2) calls sitting on the side of the pond, while S. multiplicata (video 1) calls from a floating position towards the middle of the pond. Note also that the calls of the two species sound very different. Presumably, these differences in behavior enable females to mate with males of their own species. Yet, S. bombifrons females sometimes mate with the "wrong species." It now appears that S. bombifrons females choose to mate with S. multiplicata males, but only when doing so benefits her young. view more
Credit: Video copyright <i>Science</i>