---
title: "Scientists Built a “FrogPhone” to Remotely Survey Frog Habitats"
description: "Scientists built a new remote acoustic survey tool to track wild frog populations. The best part is they decided to name it the FrogPhone."
date: "2019-12-07"
modified: "2019-12-07"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/frogphone-remotely-survey-frog-habitats"
categories:
  - "Biology"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "biology"
  - "ecology"
  - "frogs"
  - "the digest"
---

# Scientists Built a “FrogPhone” to Remotely Survey Frog Habitats

![Scientists built a new remote acoustic survey tool to track wild frog populations. The best part is they decided to name it the FrogPhone.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/scientists-frogphone-remotely-survey-frog-habitats.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Image via Pexels/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## FrogPhone

Scientists have finally solved an age-old problem: how to track wild [frog populations](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/regrow-limbs-frogs>) without leaving the lab.

The answer is an acoustic surveillance device delightfully dubbed the FrogPhone, [according to a press release](<https://phys.org/news/2019-12-dial-a-frog-frogphone-remotely-frogs-wild.html>). Using the FrogPhone, scientists can access remote survey sites and record frog calls from up to 150 meters away, immediately gathering important information on the health of an ecosystem.

## Ringbit

We'll be the first to admit that the idea of a FrogPhone is low-key hilarious. But goofy name aside, the tech stands to make ecological research much more time and cost-efficient, [according to research](<https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.13332>) published Wednesday in the journal *British Ecological Society*.

Instead of traveling to an area each time they need new data, scientists now need only visit each habitat once to set up a FrogPhone receiver. After that, they can simply dial in from the comfort of the lab.

## Glomp

The FrogPhone's developers built a waterproof case that lets the device float, perhaps in the middle of a pond frequented by the slimy little fellas. Future iterations, per the press release, might include multi-directional microphones or broader capabilities for recording other animals' cries, something that can help them better keep an eye on [ecological health](<https://futurism.com/animal-disease-recovery-amphibian-plague>).

"The device allows us to monitor the local frog population with more frequency and ease," said co-author and Region Frogwatch coordinator Anke Maria Hoefer, "which is significant as frog species are widely recognized as indicators of environmental health."

**READ MORE:** [Dial-a-frog: Researchers develop the 'FrogPhone' to remotely call frogs in the wild](<https://phys.org/news/2019-12-dial-a-frog-frogphone-remotely-frogs-wild.html>) \[British Ecological Society\]

**More on frogs:** *[You Can Now Genetically Engineer Your Own Mutant Frogs for $499](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/mutant-frogs-genetic-engineering>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)