New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Giant otter's repertoire includes 22 distinct vocalizations

Date:
November 12, 2014
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Giant otters may have a vocal repertoire with 22 distinct vocalization types produced by adults and 11 neonate vocalization types. Giant otters, found in South America, are very social and frequently vocalizing animals. They live in groups that may vary, but generally include a reproductive pair and their offspring, born in different years.
Share:
FULL STORY

Giant otters may have a vocal repertoire with 22 distinct vocalization types produced by adults and 11 neonate vocalization types, according to a study published November 12, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Christina Mumm and Mirjam Knörnschild from University of Ulm, Germany.

Giant otters, found in South America, are very social and frequently vocalizing animals. They live in groups that may vary, but generally include a reproductive pair and their offspring, born in different years. Individuals engage in shared group activities and hold different social roles, which provide a basis for complex and long-term relationships. To investigate the connection between vocalization and social complexity, the authors of this study recorded and analyzed the vocalizations of adult and neonate giant otters from wild and captive groups. They classified the adult vocalizations according to their acoustic structure, and described their main behavioral context. Additionally, they provided the first description of vocalizations uttered in babbling bouts of newborn giant otters, which the otters may use to practice for the full adult vocal repertoire.

Researchers found a vocal repertoire with 22 distinct vocalization types produced by adults and 11 vocalization types within the babbling bouts of the neonates. A comparison within the otter subfamily suggests a link between vocal and social complexity, with the giant otters possibly being the most socially and vocally complex subfamily species.


Story Source:

Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Christina A. S. Mumm, Mirjam Knörnschild. The Vocal Repertoire of Adult and Neonate Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis). PLoS ONE, 2014; 9 (11): e112562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112562

Cite This Page:

PLOS. "Giant otter's repertoire includes 22 distinct vocalizations." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112144812.htm>.
PLOS. (2014, November 12). Giant otter's repertoire includes 22 distinct vocalizations. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112144812.htm
PLOS. "Giant otter's repertoire includes 22 distinct vocalizations." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112144812.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES