Social Organization in the Mating Calls of Some Neotropical Anurans

Observations on the calling behavior of certain neo- tropical frogs indicate the existence of different patterns of social organi- zation. Individuals of some species that do not aggregate for breeding purposes call in duets or trios, whereas individuals of some species that congregate at breeding sites call in duets, trios, or quartets. In at least one species, Hyla elaeochroa, the organization of calling exists only in the initial phase of each chorus. Evidence suggests the presence of dom- inant individuals in the social organization of some species.