Get a Free Engangered Animal Ringtone

Whether you prefer your latest favorite song, an uncommon synthesized melody, or the good old telephone ring, there's no denying there are plenty of options when it comes to ringtones. And one of the more eco-aware options is RareEarthtones.org, a website featuring a collection of free animal call ringtones.

A project of the Center for Biological Diversity, Rare Earthtones was created to raise awareness of endangered species. Offering up free animal ringtones is a creative way to draw attention to the plight of endangered species and other animals—and the Center is banking on the unusual sounds being a conversation starter.

"Putting these unique cries, howls, and warbles on your phone for the world to hear is one great way to spread the word about species from the rockhopper penguin to the Puerto Rico rock frog—and to help remind others why they need our protection," reads the introductory e-mail sent out to anyone who signs up to access the ringtones.

There are nearly 100 ringtones to choose from, including more than 70 ringtones of rare and endangered mammals, frogs, and birds, and another 22 ringtones of "spectacular-sounding" wildlife. Among the most distinctive and interesting wildlife ringtones are the African elephant, the Mexican grey wolf, the elf owl, the bald eagle, the American alligator, and the common loon.

This year, the Center for Biological Diversity also launched a sister site in Spanish, LlamadasSalvajes.org, which features the sounds of 31 mammals, birds, and frogs.

Signing up on either the English or Spanish site is easy. You just need to provide your name, e-mail address, and country (zip/postal code is optional) to gain access to the ringtones page. You can download as many ringtones as you like, and there are also wallpapers for each animal, frog, and bird.

Once you've downloaded a ringtone, the rest is up to you. Friends will almost certainly ask about your wild ringtone, giving you an opportunity to spread the word about the project and the plight of endangered species. You could even do a little background research on the animal featured in your ringtone so you can tell people about why it's at risk and what's being done to support the species. WorldWildlifeFund.org [http://www.worldwildlife.org/] is an excellent resource for information on endangered species.

Based in Tucson, Arizona, the Center for Biological Diversity works to support endangered species. "Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction," the organization's mission statement reads.