This Tiny Frog’s Scream is Downright Terrifying

Screaming or yelling is a natural reaction to a threat. One animal you’d likely never expect to hear this from, though, is a frog, which is more often associated with croaking. This is why rain frogs like this one in a video from frogz7p seem to defy all logic when it comes to frog noises. Rather than letting out a classic ribbit, this frog screams for its life. As unusual and jarring as it is, this is quite typical for this type of frog. Here’s how their croaks evolved into a sound straight from a horror movie.

Screams Are More Effective Than Croaks

“Screaming” frogs have gone viral before, but there’s still some curiosity surrounding why it happens. If you weren’t looking, it would be easy to assume this sound came from a much larger animal. This tiny guy might be one of the cutest frogs in the world, but its voice packs a punch. This is an efficient tool to throw predators off a frog’s trail. As these amphibians have evolved, they’ve learned to use sound as a defense mechanism. A rain frog’s scream isn’t necessarily a sign that they’re afraid, but more so a means of escape.

Loud, high-pitched noises like this one tend to deter predators. This frog’s “war cry” is an attempt to intimidate a potential predator before fleeing. Frogs can make these sounds for up to five seconds, long enough to startle any large animal. Some experts believe this cry evolved due to frogs’ slow-moving defenses. Since they cannot leap from danger in time, they may have turned to sound to spook predators.

Frog Screams Have a Secondary Purpose

Not only have frogs evolved to scream and scare, but it turns out these sounds might have another purpose. According to BBC Wildlife, these screams can do more than save a frog’s life. A secondary purpose might be to attract predators rather than scare them off. A sound like this one can attract animals such as cats, which could prey on whatever predators prey on the frogs.

This implies that frogs are a highly intelligent species. While this defense method has yet to be confirmed, it would prove highly beneficial. Frogs have many enemies, including birds and rodents, which are prey to larger animals that also hunt frogs. If a frog’s scream attracts a cat, dog, or other large animal, it can escape while the two predators duke it out. For such a small amphibian, desert rain frogs are smarter than most give them credit for.