Abstract:In July 2012, using ultrasonic recording devices, we collected courtship calls from male Odorrana schmackeri at Fuxi, Mount Huangshan. We later analyzed the characteristics of these recorded sounds in our laboratory. From our observation, we discovered that breeding activities of O. schmackeri mainly peaked around mid-July. During this peak breeding period, courtship calls, spawning, and other mating activities occurred throughout the day and night, mostly near shallow waters. O. schmackeri calls can be categorized (by note number and sound spectrum) into four different vocal types: single-note, ‘infant'-note, double-note, and multi-note staccato. Among these four vocal types, single-note, double-note, and 'infant'-note are most common. Using the SELENA software, we generated the spectrograms and the corresponding power spectrums for each of the 4 vocal types. Using Sound Analysis pro v1.2, we performed quantitative analysis on the sound characteristic parameters of three vocal types: single-note, double-note, and 'infant'-note. Sound parameters we analyzed include: call duration (ms), note number, note duration (ms), note interval (ms), dominant frequency (Hz), pulse rate (1/s), etc. Our results show that the range of dominant frequency of O. schmackeri is from 1.8 to 4.5 kHz (n = 65). Excluding the ultrasonic range, results of auditory sensitivity peak value from prior electrophysiological experiments were consistent with the range of dominant frequency (3.1 ± 0.7 kHz) in current study. Such consistency indicates that O. schmackeri mainly communicates in this frequency band. Results from our Univariate ANOVA analysis reveal that there were significant differences in the call duration between double-note, single-note and ‘infant'-note (p < 0.01). Results also show significant differences in the intensity of the 2nd harmonic sound between double-note and single-note (p = 0.01). Between the three common vocal types, we have determined that the double-note has the longest call duration (99.5 ± 8.4 ms). Such determination allows us to speculate that this type of call might be used by O. schmackeri as its primary courtship call, and the duration of these double-note mating calls might be able to reflect the overall wellbeing of the caller.