Female Tungara Frogs May be 'Irrational' When Choosing Their Mate

Frogs may be irrational when choosing a mate. While it's no surprise that females will select the more "attractive" of two males, it is a surprise that a female may be susceptible to the "decoy" effect, where the introduction of a third, inferior male results in the female choosing the less attractive of the first two options.

In this latest study, the researchers looked at tungara frogs. In all, they examined 80 female tungaras, which are known to be attracted to male calls of low frequency and long duration. Then, the scientists identified three different call variants, and measured female preference for each one.

The scientists found that call B was the preferred choice over call A. However, females were significantly more likely to choose the intermediate target A in the presence of a decoy. This effect was noticeable regardless of whether the decoy call was perceived from a specific spot, or an indiscernible spot.

So why did the frogs make the lesser choice? The scientists believe that in socially complex situations like this one, rational decisions could be time consuming, and potentially result in lost mating opportunities or the risk of further exposure to predators. This could mean that females choose the fast option rather than the best option.

The findings highlight the influence of context when choosing a mate, and have significant implications for the understanding of sexual selection.

The researchers hope to conduct further research to better understand the role of the "decoy" effect in maximizing fitness.

The findings are published in the journal Science.

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