Amolops tormotus
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Also known as the concave-eared torrent frog, Amolops tormotus is the first frog (and the first non-mammalian organism) demonstrated to both produce and perceive ultrasonic frequencies. The frogs preferred habitat is adjacent to rapidly moving water which produces perpetual low-frequency background noise. Thus, the use of high-frequency calls is believed to facilitate interspecific communication within the frogs' noisy environment.
Torrent frogs have extremely thin eardrums recessed in their ears, which allows for the ear bones that connect the drum to sound processing part of the ear to be shorter and lighter. Most frogs have thick eardrums close to the surface of the skin and can only hear frequencies below 12 kilohertz. Torrent frogs have been recorded chirping at 128 kHz.
External Links
- [Scientists Discover Reason Behind Ear Canal in Chinese Frog: Ultrasonic Communication]
- [Live Science: Ultrasonic Frogs Croak in Secret]
- [Science News for Kids: Ultrasonic Frogs Raise the Pitch]
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