The sound-production apparatus of frogs consists of the larynx and its vocal cords. This laryngeal apparatus is well developed in males, who also possess a vocal sac. In the majority of frogs, vocal sacs develop as a diverticulum from the lining of the buccal cavity (figure 19.18). Air from the lungs is forced over the vocal cords and cartilages of the larynx, causing them to vibrate.
Muscles control the tension of the vocal cords and regulate the frequency of the sound. 70cal sacs act as resonating structures and increase the volume of the sound.
The use of sound to attract mates is especially useful in organisms that occupy widely dispersed habitats and must come together for breeding. Because many species of frogs often converge at the same pond for loreeding, finding a mate of the proper species could be chaotic. Vocalizations help to reduce the chaos.