Evolution of Acoustic Behaviour in African Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae)

Abstract

Mating calls are known for 29 species of African Bu/o belonging to 11 species groups. Twenty-five African species, representing eight species groups (including four groups or complexes having 2N =22) have calls which Martin (1972) termed Type I. This call type is also found in Schiamader11l4 carens, Nectophrynoides lornieri and N. occidentalis. It is known in only four species of Bu/o outside Africa and in Odontophrynus americanus which is thought to be closely related to leptodactylids that gave rise to the genus Bu/o. Four African species of Bu/o have Type IT calls. Gecgraphic distribution of three call types indicates large radiations of one or two call types in South America, North America and Africa. The European and Asian Bu/o faunas appear to be derived primarily from American radiations.