[Ben_C]

Hey all,
I am wondering if any of you know a 'scientific term' for the rear toe twitching that happens in arrow frogs and mantellas when they eat, mate, etc....
also, do you know of any functional significance of this behavior?
Thank you very much!
~Ben

 

[Guest]

It seems to slimulate movement in prey, while not scaring it away. I notice speed oscilations depending on when they are preparing to "hit" and when they are "attracting prey."

 

[Ben_C]

I've also heard that 'lunge feeders' use it to check their footing or something but it didn't really seem to make complete sense to me because they do it when they're facing eachother before initiating some mating behaviors...hmmm...
Thanks for the quick reply, btw.

 

[andersonii85]

Hey all,
I am wondering if any of you know a 'scientific term' for the rear toe twitching that happens in arrow frogs and mantellas when they eat, mate, etc....
also, do you know of any functional significance of this behavior?
Thank you very much!
~Ben

Ben,

The scientific term for this is "digital fluttering". Just thought you would like to know that. I wrote a proposal to do a behavioral study on it across anuran taxa, but was turned down for the grant. I may try to use it for grad school though....someday...

Justin