the.com/ribbit
The only frog call you know belongs to one species near Hollywood.
means The conventional English imitation of a frog's croak, even though most frog species don't actually make that sound.
from An onomatopoeia — a word built to mimic a sound — that entered American English in the 20th century. It's specifically the call of the Pacific tree frog, a species native to the area around Hollywood, whose croak was recorded so often for film and television soundtracks that it became the 'default' frog noise in the popular imagination, regardless of which species was on screen.
- actual source
- Pacific tree frog, native to California
- hollywood default
- Recorded for films, became the global frog sound
- real variety
- Frogs croak, chirp, peep, even bark
- male only
- Calling is how males attract mates
- silent ears
- Some frogs hear calls through their lungs
pacific tree frog — native to california and oregon, its call was used as the generic 'frog sound' in hollywood films since the 1920s
american bullfrog — found across north america, produces a deep 'jug-o-rum' call often imitated as 'ribbit' in popular culture