What is distinctive about mating behavior of Doris Swanson's poison dart frog?

What is distinctive about mating behavior of Doris Swanson's poison dart frog?

• A. The male leads in mating by building a nest.
• B. The pair forms a mutual trial of strength to choose mates.
• C. The female leads in mating by patting the male on the back with her hind feet.
• D. The Doris Swanson's poison dart frog is unique among amphibians because the female takes the lead in mating by patting the male on the back with her hind feet.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is who starts the courtship and how the signal is delivered. In this frog, the female takes the lead in mating and uses a distinctive tactile cue—patting the male on the back with her hind feet—to initiate and guide the process. This gives it a unique role reversal compared with many amphibians, where males typically initiate courtship through calls and displays. So the statement is the best because it names both the female-led initiation and the specific signaling behavior, highlighting what makes this species stand out. The other descriptions either imply a male-led or a different kind of interaction, which doesn’t capture the unusual female-initiated, foot-patting approach.

The key idea here is who starts the courtship and how the signal is delivered. In this frog, the female takes the lead in mating and uses a distinctive tactile cue—patting the male on the back with her hind feet—to initiate and guide the process. This gives it a unique role reversal compared with many amphibians, where males typically initiate courtship through calls and displays. So the statement is the best because it names both the female-led initiation and the specific signaling behavior, highlighting what makes this species stand out. The other descriptions either imply a male-led or a different kind of interaction, which doesn’t capture the unusual female-initiated, foot-patting approach.