Bioacoustics of Pelodytes punctatus

Advertisement call and reproductive behavior. The advertisement call of P. punctatus has been described by several authors ( Hotz 1971 ; Elzen 1975 ; Paillete et al. 1992). Several call parameters (e.g., call duration) were found to depend on the temperature ( Boulenger, 1897 ; Paillete et al. 1992). As with all western Pelodytes , the call consists of two notes ( A and B ) and has been reported as typically containing only a single B note following A ( Paillette et al. 1992 ). Our analysis shows that also sequences of several B notes can be emitted following an A ( Fig. 7 ), and it remains to be assessed by a more detailed study whether populational variation exists in the frequency of B series. Males call from positions partially or even completely submerged in the water, and occasional episodes of mortality due to sudden drops in temperature have been observed ( Montori et al. 2011 ). Males remain for a longer period of time than females at the breeding sites and show a marked philopatry ( Toxopeus et al. 1993 ). Female release calls have been mentioned by Elzen (1976) . The amplexus is inguinal and usually lasts a few hours ( Guyétant 1986 ). Tadpole. We assessed morphology in one tadpole in developmental stage 34 (field number ZCMV 14045 , BL 22.2 mm , TL 44.5 mm , from Palamós , Catalonia ) . The examined tadpole has an elliptical body, a narrowly rounded snout in dorsal view, protruding eyes from the surface of the body and a very short tail with a typical braided line pattern; and spiraculum sinistral. The distance between eyes is moderately wide and nares are very large, round, positioned high dorsally, and situated nearer to snout than to eye and below the eye level. Moderately wide oral disk ( Fig. 9b ), emarginated, upper labium is wider than lower labium, LTRF is 5(2–5)/5(1–3). The upper jaw sheath is partially keratinized with pointed serrations, moderately wide without medial convexity. The lower sheath is wide V-shaped, partially keratinized and partially hidden by the upper one. Both jaw sheaths have a smooth surface. This tadpole is characterized by the presence of a network of dark lines, as it is also typical for larvae of the anuran genera Bombina and Discoglossus , covering the whole body, in addition to the presence of sparse dark spots. The venter is transparent with irregularly spiral shape intestinal coils.