CHEMICAL INTERACTION OF FROG TADPOLES (RA NA-TEMPORARIA L, ANURA, AMPHIBIA) WITH CONSPECIFIC AND HETEROSPECIFIC ANURAN TADPOLES

In double-choice experiments the behavioural reactions of Rana tempora ria tadpoles to con- and heterospecific chemical cues of anuran tadpol es were studied. It was shown that they have not reacted to heterospec ific chemical signals but were attracted by comspecific ones. Besides, Rana temporaria tadpoles do not show chemical guided sibling-reaction , saying that the sibs' cues were not preferable. The results indicate that Rana temporaria tadpoles are capable to distinguish these signal s, react to some of them and cause the reaction of other tadpoles. Nev ertheless, chemical signals seem not to play such great role in commun ication of these tadpoles.