Advertisement and release calls of Rhinella scitula (Caramaschi and Niemeyer, 2003) (Anura: Bufonidae)

Abstract

The anuran calls descriptions have given important taxonomic information in studies within problematic species group. Herein, we describe the advertisement and release calls of R. scitula. We analyzed calls recorded in three localities in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, including the type locality. Males were calling at the margins of permanent streams in forest fragments ca. 21:00 h. The advertisement call of R. scitula is multi-pulsed with interior amplitude modulation, resulting in pulse groups. Males emitted non-regular call series with duration of 0.27s ± 0.03 (0.23–0.36), note duration of 0.015s ± 0.004 (0.007–0.040), pulse duration of 0.008s ± 0.001 (0.005–0.015, n=180), pulse group per call of 6.6 ± 0.92 (5–8) and dominant frequency of 1439.7 Hz ± 46.1 (1378.1–1550.4). The release calls were characterized by a dominant frequency of 1115.8Hz ± 102.2 (947.5–1550.4), a frequency bandwidth of 2001.6Hz ± 527.4 (861.3–3876). They are formed by pulsed and/or pulsatile notes spaced by non-regular intervals or series of 2–19 calls. From all R. margaritifera species group with described advertisement calls, the most different to R. scitula and other species in the group was R. magnussoni, which has a structurally distinct call. The release calls in R. granulosa species group and R. scitula has the same pattern of pulsed and/or non-pulsed notes.