Multiple-level variation of advertisement calls of Microhyla fissipes
across Hainan Island
Abstract
Vocalization is an important feature in anuran identification that could
vary among individuals and populations. We present an investigation of
multiple-level variation on advertisement calls of Microhyla fissipes
from nine populations across Hainan Island and further test the
differences between the two geographical groups that were divided by
morphological features in a previous study. We found that dominant
frequency is the most static call parameter at the individual-level.
Four of six call parameters show significant differences between groups
and could be useful for identification among groups. The southwest (SW)
group from Hainan Island represents the highest dominant frequency among
all reported advertisement calls in the literature implying a need for
re-evaluation of its taxonomy position.