In nature, cheating and cheating to flirt is not entirely frowned upon. According to a French study from the University of Lyon published in the journal Animal Behavior , smaller male tree frogs ( Hyla arborea) are placed close to their large rivals so that the females believe that their courtship calls are more powerful than they are. that they really are . These are "parasitic tactics" in which the smallest amphibians, when competing for females, take advantage of the energy invested in the call by other larger males to be able to bind. In this way they avoid the disadvantage of being younger when looking for a partner.
This behavior manifests itself mainly at the end of the night, and is less frequent at dusk. And it is enhanced when a small frog faces more "attractive" competitors, according to the authors of the research.
