Which statement describes mating behavior of Doris Swanson's poison dart frog?

Which statement describes mating behavior of Doris Swanson's poison dart frog?

• A. The male leads in mating by building a nest.
• B. The female leads in mating by patting the male on the back with her hind feet.
• C. Mating occurs only in water.
• D. The pair mates randomly with no lead.

Answer: (B)

Courtship in Doris Swanson's poison dart frog is initiated by the female through a tactile signal. The female leads by patting the male on the back with her hind feet, a gesture that prompts the male to grasp her in amplexus and begin fertilization. This kind of female-initiated cue helps coordinate mating and ensures the eggs are fertilized and cared for as the pair proceeds.

Building a nest by the male isn’t part of this description, and while many poison dart frogs lay eggs on leaves and rely on male involvement to guard eggs and transport tadpoles, the key point here is the female’s active role in starting mating. The idea that mating occurs only in water or that the pair mates randomly with no lead doesn’t fit the described behavior, where a clear tactile signal from the female guides the process.