The Mediterranian-tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) … small but mighty!

Well done, because every evening the same rival is met and so it is very much needed to look as frightening as possible:

And with full power one is now trying to push the rival under water:

Each and every clutch is allowed:

But a push underwater is as clear as a k.o. victory! With this kind of fights the frogs give a trilling sound:

And when finally all got their place the male frogs for hours are calling with a particular sound for the favor of a lady frog. All give a different sound. And it would be easy to distinguish one from the other if there wouldn´t be so many in the biotope!

Here you can see very well the sound waves:

And here the laryngeal sac traversed by blood vessels:

"May I ask you a big favour? In case one of your neighbors is getting angry because of the noise we are doing, please show him our photos! Certainly he will like us after!"

July 2009

Birgit Kremer