Discoveries

March 26, 2024

Tapping Into a Mystery

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In a riveting dance of deception, poison dart frogs tap their toes faster than renowned tap dancers Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.

Scientists, however, aren’t sure why, the New York Times reported.

A recent study by biologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign observed dyeing poison dart frogs tapping up to 500 times per minute, possibly in response to fruit flies locked in a petri dish. But their tapping didn’t significantly impact their success in catching prey.

The team explained the frogs tapped most vigorously when perched on leaves, suggesting a link between toe-tapping and prey detection. While some speculate the toe-tapping could lure prey closer – similar to how angler fish use their bioluminescent lure – others believe it might help in sensing vibrations from prey.

Meanwhile, Colombian researchers found that another poison frog species accelerated their toe-tapping before attacking prey. The findings hint at a sensory mechanism at play, with vibrations possibly transmitting signals to their inner ears.

“It’s a potentially really interesting example of a predator using sensory cues to manipulate prey behavior – at least there’s that possibility,” said Reginald Cocroft, a biologist at the University of Missouri who collaborated on the Colombian study.

Another study from Germany revealed that both crickets and smaller fruit flies triggered toe-tapping in green-and-black poison frogs. However, frog calls did not trigger the peculiar behavior, emphasizing a connection between tapping and feeding.

Despite these findings, the exact role of toe-tapping in the frogs’ feeding behavior remains elusive. Researchers plan to delve deeper to uncover whether these frogs tap their toes for a meal or simply for kicks.

This story originally appeared in the March 26, 2024 newsletter, Iron Junta.