Advertisement Call Variation and Observations on Breeding Behavior of Bufo debilis and B. punctatus

ABsTRAcr.-Advertisement calls of Bufo debilis and B. punctatus were analyzed to determine if variation in calls was correlated with body size and temperature. Advertisement call variables (frequency, pulse rate or call duration) were not significantly correlated with male snout-vent length in either species. All three call variables, as well as call rate, were significantly correlated with body temperature in B. punctatus; analysis of temperature-induced variation was not possible for B. debilis. Observations revealed that males of neither species employ satellite or active-searching strategies to locate females in choruses. To initiate amplexus a female approaches a calling male and the male continues to vocalize until the female makes physical contact. These results are discussed in relation to previous work with bufonids. Breeding behavior of a number of anurans has recently been subjected to sociobiological analysis (see reviews by Wells, 1977; Sullivan, 1983a). These and other studies have generated considerable controversy concerning the means by which non-random mating can arise in anuran breeding aggregations (Woodward, 1982; Sullivan, 1983a).