Rik-rrork. That's the sound made by frogs singing at night. You might have thought the noises were just the musical sounds of ure. You probably didn't realize that you were listening to frogs' communicating with one another. These familiar sounds are not random(随意的) but are actually meaningful to frogs.
Being Heard but Not Seen
Frogs are good at being heard but not seen. These animals have several characters that protect them n predators (捕食者 ). One is their size. Most frogs are small, which helps them hide easily. Many frogs have coloring that allows them to hide in their environment, making it difficult for predators to find them. In addition, most frogs are active at night. So it is difficult for most animals to see them in the dark.
Small but Loud
Frogs call to tell other frogs where they are. Their voices can be very loud. But when frogs feel the footsteps of a larger animal, they become silent.
Many of the world's frogs live in rain forests, where there are many different animals calling to their own species (物种 ) in their own ways. Frogs need to call loudly enough to be heard through the noise in order to find other frogs.
Singing with Purpose
Peter Narins is a scientist who studies how frogs call to one another. He has learned that frogs use their calls to help them tell friend from enemy. They sing the same notes at the same volume (音量 ) each time they call. In addition, Narins has found that frogs of the same species always sing the same patterns (模式 ). These patterns are like a code that is different from other animals' calls and difficult for others to copy. Narins also observed that timing plays a role in frog calls. Many frogs call only at a certain time of night.
More Work to Do
Scientists want to better understand the purpose of frog calls. Studies continue to explore the details of frogs' unique communication. Being heard but not seen is one way frogs stay safe. The idea that they have found a way to survive in a dangerous world is simply amazing.
