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Re: alytes

Subject: Re: alytes
From: Walter Knapp <>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 01:01:41 -0400
Yannick Dauby wrote:
> hello all !
>
> i just need some frog expert opinions... (hello walt !)

I may know Georgia's frogs, but don't know those of france. So can only
offer minimal help.

> here are some sounds i recorded by night a few days ago, in the
> south-east part of france, near the mercantour national park (80 km from=

> the mediterranean sea). it was just above a village at 1500 meters high,=

> around 01AM. i don't know exactly the temperature but i think it was
> around 17-20 degrees celsius (much more friendly than the 36=B0c of today=

> in my appartment...).
> i was absolutly unable to locate these animals even if i was sure that
> they were only a few centimeters near (i spent almost 10 minutes,
> looking with my pocket light below the stones around...).
> i have heard several places around this area where these batracians are
> present.
>
> i thought these beautiful singers could be alytes obstetricans, but on
> every nature sounds cd i have, these toads are singing at a much lower
> pitch.

I would estimate you are looking for something about a inch (2.5cm)
long. That's based on the frequency. The calls are similar to two
species here, the Oak Toad and the Ornate Chorus Frog. Both are in that
size range.

> so could anyone identify these songs ?
>
> if it is the alytes obstetricans, why do they have a so high-pitched
> voice ? is it related to atmospheric conditions ? their age ? the
> altitude ? the specificity of the region ?
> and do these questions have a sense regarding amphibians in general ?

I don't think frogs read books, and definitely don't cart around
instruments to check their calls. Most species here have some variation
from individual to individual, and maybe more between different regions.

I'm of the opinion that the biggest controlling factor is frog size.
Maybe you have a group that's averaging smaller than normal.

Walt




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