Interspecific combat in anurans: a case of Hypsiboas faber (Wied-Neuwied, 1821) (Hylidae) and Rhinella pombali (Baldissera-Jr, Caramaschi & Haddad, 2004) (Bufonidae)

Resumo

We report an interspecific combat involving the tree frog Hypsiboas faber and the toad Rhinella pombali in southeastern Brazil. Since the observation occurred after the beginning of the interaction, either one of the species may have started the fight. In general, intra-specific combats are more common for species in which the male is as large, as or larger than, the female, as observed in Hypsiboas faber. Thus, the male tree frog might have confused the toad with a conspecific opponent. On the other hand, bufonid males can use active searching for females, sometimes clasping other males or objects. Therefore, the toad might have clasped the male tree frog and it was this that provoked the subsequent wrestling.