Chryscat, There are certain clues you can look for to tell males from females depending on the particular genus you are observing.
For instance, in the case of the bullfrog picture, the large circle behind the eye tells me that that frog is male. The circle is called a tympanum and is the frog's ear. In frogs of the genus Rana, the tympani of males tend to be larger in circumference than the eye and those of females tend to be about the same size as the eye.
In some toads, a clue is the size of the "thumbs" on the front feet. Males have more robust thumbs -- helps them hold onto the female during amplexus (i.e. froggie version of the wild monkey dance, if you know what I mean ;)
Also, males are the ones that sing. So if you see a frog or toad all puffed out and singing away, it's a male.
As for my little treefrog friend here -- I'm not sure if it was male or female.
5 comments:
I have never seen such a thing. *tickled*
He seems to be quite comfy.
He/she? How can you tell on a frog? Is it some type of body style?
Grins*
With that coloring under his eyes, it's almost as if he's dressed to go out and hit the clubs.
Chryscat,
There are certain clues you can look for to tell males from females depending on the particular genus you are observing.
For instance, in the case of the bullfrog picture, the large circle behind the eye tells me that that frog is male. The circle is called a tympanum and is the frog's ear. In frogs of the genus Rana, the tympani of males tend to be larger in circumference than the eye and those of females tend to be about the same size as the eye.
In some toads, a clue is the size of the "thumbs" on the front feet. Males have more robust thumbs -- helps them hold onto the female during amplexus (i.e. froggie version of the wild monkey dance, if you know what I mean ;)
Also, males are the ones that sing. So if you see a frog or toad all puffed out and singing away, it's a male.
As for my little treefrog friend here -- I'm not sure if it was male or female.
Mr. B, you may be right. He may be ready to party :) Froggie went a courtin'...
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