Acoustitic Characteristics of Three Species of the Genus Amolops (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)

Abstract

Advertisement call characteristics of Amolops chunganensis from western China, A. larutensis from Peninsular Malaysia, and A. jerboa from Borneo are described. The last species is sometimes grouped into a different genus, but all the three species are considered to constitute a single genus Amolops (sensu lato) from their unique larval morphology. Calls of the three species differ considerably from each other both in temporal and frequency patterns, and from these acoustic characteristics, the idea of subdividing this genus into discrete subgenera is supported, and the three species are classified as A. (Amolops) chunganensis, A. (Amo) larutensis, and A. (Meristogenys) jerboa. Calls of the three species differ in temporal patterns, but are similar in having rather high dominant frequencies and more or less clear frequency modulations. These common acoustic properties seem to be well adapted for the call to emerge above the heavy environmental noises.