First report of visual displays in the Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus carnifex

Visual communication is apparently widespread among anurans, but these behaviours in many Neotropical species remain unstudied. We provide the first descriptions of visual displays in males of the Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus carnifex (Hylidae) from three populations at Mindo, in northwestern Ecuador. We describe hind-foot lifting, foot-flagging, arm waving, toe trembling, body raising, and throat exposure for D. carnifex. All visual displays include exposure of flash colours in hidden surfaces of body and legs. Vocalisations were not emitted simultaneously with visual displays but were intercalated.