Vocalizations and reproductive behaviour in the Smith Frog, Hy/a faber Wied (Amphibia: HyUdae

The reproductive behaviour of the Smith Frog, Hyla f aber, was studied in an artificial pennanent pond in southeastern Brazil. Males. built nests at the edges of this pond where eggs were laid. Reproductive activity continued from late October, 1988 through early March. 1989. Twenty five males and 20 females were marked at the pond. There was no sexual dimorphism in size and females did not choose the larger males. Mean male residency was 15.5 nights; only two females were observed for more than one night. Three different vocalizations were emined during female attraction and eounship. Counship behaviour was complex and nearly invariable. Male reproductive success varied between 1-7 matings and was not correlated with male size, but was positively corre-lated with length of residency. Only one female was observed mating more than once. Except for minor details, lhe reproductive behaviour of the Smith Frog i ~ very similar to that observed for Hy/a rosenbergi, an ecologicaily and phylogcnetically related specie.'>