China Tree Frogs Sing Ultrasonic Duets, Study Finds

These cute little frogs live in a very noisy area. In order for them to hear one another and to sing their mating duets, they communicate on an ultrasonic level!

According to the authors, female frogs make the first overture with a courtship call featuring multiple harmonics that extend into the ultrasonic range—frequencies greater than 20 kilohertz, the upper limit of human hearing.

The frog, Odorrana tormota, joins select species of birds, along with dolphins and whales, that are known to communicate ultrasonically to circumvent background noise, said study co-author Albert Feng, a physiologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Isn't it amazing what a diverse world that God has created for us! And we learn more about its wonders every day!