Scientists discover new frog that quacks like a duck

[thomdunn]

Originally published at: Scientists discover new frog that quacks like a duck | Boing Boing

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[Purplecat]

Take that, Mccarthyites.

[NukeML]

Some kind of frog-duck?

[Shuck]

Is there audio that’s not loading for me, or did none of the reportage on this actually include any? Because a) that’s a weird omission when the whole news story is “X sounds like Y” and b) field researchers could just make up any old bollocks to get attention, if they don’t have to provide any proof. “New frog sounds exactly like neighing horse/revving diesel truck/the singing of Judy Garland” - go nuts, guys.

Also, the entirely global notion of what a “frog sounds like” is basically based on one sound recording of one species of California frog used by Hollywood movies, and globally, frog calls are incredibly diverse, with very few frogs actually sounding like that.

[euansmith]

Wha’ Du’ Fr’g!?

[chenille]

@Shuck

Also, the entirely global notion of what a “frog sounds like” is basically based on one sound recording of one species of California frog used by Hollywood movies

I think that’s why aliens keep assuming humans all speak English too.

Not all ducks sound the same either – even male mallards don’t really have the classic quack.

[Bunbain]

to illustrate that point,

[Mindysan33]

[Shuck]

Although even in North America, various frogs sound completely different, with the “ribbit” being onomatopoeia for the call of the Baja California tree frog so beloved by Hollywood…

[smulder]

[hecep]

If you were an Ancient Greek Playwright, you’d say it as “Brekekekex koax koax”

[timd]

And for a limited comparison

Looks like Germans have frogs that sound a bit like ducks too.

[smut_clyde]

Scientists discover new duck that looks like a frog.

[Beanolini]

@hecep

If you were an Ancient Greek Playwright, you’d say it as “Brekekekex koax koax”

That’s actually a pretty good description of the calls of European marsh frogs:

WWT London: Marsh frogs calling