Abstract Male weaponry evolution is often linked to resource or female defense polygyny. This pattern emerges from highly studied taxa, such as arthropods and mammals. However, whether factors such as breeding site type influence weaponry evolution remains an open question. We explore this question using frogs of the subfamily Leptodactylinae, where males of species spawning in exposed sites (water bodies) fight to hold oviposition sites or dislodge rivals during amplexus.
