Bubble Gums

As Ned wrote in yesterday's post, only the male Red-spotted Toads make the mating call. (It's nearly deafening when you're in the midst of 50 or so males.) It looks like they're blowing a bubble, but they're really using their vocal sac to enhance the resonance of their call. It didn't seem to me that the females were actively choosing the loudest male; but then again, I thought they were all loud :-)

Photos © Ned Harris 7/20/2016

Don't try this at home!