Journal
BIOACOUSTICS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SOUND AND ITS RECORDING
Volume 32, Issue 2, Pages 230-240Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2022.2105954
Keywords
Vocalization frequencies; sex differences; monomorphic; rock hyrax
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Sex differences in vocalization frequencies were found in rock hyraxes, with females showing higher frequencies. The study also explored the information encoded in ultrasonic frequencies and its implications for animal communication.
Sex differences in vocalizations are found across the animal kingdom, which may be due to different vocal apparatus, call function, and context. Rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) of both sexes are vocal, but the sexes differ in repertoire size, call usage, and amplitude. In this study we examined sex differences in vocalization frequencies and predicted that they will be low and that frequency ranges will overlap since sexual size dimorphism in this species is modest (similar to 15%). We utilized two datasets: recordings of captive hyraxes using a condenser microphone; and audio files of wild-living individuals recorded via a miniature recorder mounted on a collar. With the exclusion of two proximate call types recorded in the wild, all calls featured an ultrasonic component. However, in females there was an effect of duration on minimal frequency. Warning trills, which are heard by humans far away, featured the highest maximal visible harmonic in both datasets. No relationship was found between calling distance and the maximal harmonic in males, while in wild females, distant calls featured higher frequencies. Our results show sex differences in hyrax vocalization frequencies. Exploring the information encoded in frequencies beyond the human hearing range may expand our understanding of animal communication.
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