They discovered that males have glands in their heads from which they are able to squirt a molecule into water where the creatures breed. This water soluble molecule, which the researchers have named splendipherin, instantly attracts female L. splendida frogs - even in tiny amounts. The team tested it out by putting pads soaked in the perfume into special water tanks. When they put a female frog in the tank, she instantly homed in on the chemical from as far away as a metre and went and sat on the pad. Smaller quantities of the pheromone got no reaction and larger ones seemed to confuse the animals.
Pheromones are now a popular subject for research.
They are thought to play important roles in species recognition, reproduction and other behaviours. Quite a few pheromones have been identified for insects, but only now are scientists beginning to describe these signalling molecules in vertebrate animal species. Even in humans, pheromones are at work. Research has shown that the females of our species who spend a great deal of time in one another's company often send out chemical signals that help them synchronise their menstrual cycles. The Adelaide team has already identified a molecule from L. splendida which is both a potent antibiotic and anti-cancer agent.