Dorothy Cheney and Robert Seyfarth are well known for their vocalization and behavior studies of vervet monkeys, as well as their more recent studies of baboons. Vervet monkeys have different alarm calls depending on the predator. Robert Seyfarth explains.
Here are a couple examples of their calls.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Primate Pronouncements
You've probably seen primates in zoos or on television or even online, but do you know what they sound like? And if you've heard them, do you know why they are vocalizing? Here are some examples of primate vocalizations along with what it is they are 'saying'.
Orangutans - "Male orangutans exhibit a curious and little-understood case of “bimaturism,” also referred to as “arrested development.” This means that there are two “types” of mature male orangutans: flanged and unflanged males. A flanged male has big cheek pads on the sides of his face and a large pendulous throat sack under his chin. An unflanged male has neither of these traits, and his body is usually smaller. Unflanged males are sexually mature and fully able to father offspring; females, however, seem to prefer to mate with the flanged males. Because of this, unflanged males often resort to “forceful copulation” in order to attain matings. Meanwhile, flanged males emit loud booming “long calls’, presumably to attract receptive females as well as to let other males know their whereabouts. It is not fully understood exactly when and why a mature male undergoes the transformation from unflanged to flanged, or even if every male undergoes this transformation (although it seems likely that he does eventually). It has been hypothesized that the existence of a dominant flanged male within the sensory range of an unflanged male inhibits the unflanged male’s development (by stimulating release of special hormones?). Thus, not until the dominant flanged male dies, moves away, or is defeated, or the subadult male himself moves away or stays low, can the unflanged male develop his cheek pads and large size." from the Orangutan Foundation International.
Orangutan long call
Chimpanzee
"Dr. Jane Goodall’s long-term study of chimpanzee behavior at Gombe National Park helped scientists understand more about the diversity and meaning of chimpanzee calls. There are two types of chimpanzee calls:
Intraparty Calls – These calls take place between chimpanzees that are in the same group.
Distance Calls – These calls are made between groups that are separated, sometimes by a great distance.
One of the chimpanzee calls is the “pant-hoot.” Each individual chimpanzee has his or her own distinct pant-hoot. This helps other chimpanzees tell who is making the call even if they can’t see who is calling." from the Jane Goodall Institute.
"High-ranking adult males pant-hoot most frequently. Females sometimes produce pant-hoots on their own and often join in a chorus of pant-hoots when others are calling. Chimpanzees pant-hoot in a variety of circumstances, such as arriving at fruit trees, responding to distant pant-hoots, when joining other community members, and when traveling." Michael L. Wilson
Chimp pant-hoot
Gorilla
Gorillas are known for beating their chest, although to be honest it really doesn't sound too intimidating to humans. It sounds more like they are trying to imitate the sounds of horse hooves.. "This behavior is done by all gorillas and the either one or two open-fist hands are clapped against the chest (Estes, 1991). Adult males produce a sound when doing this because of air sacs they have which are located on both sides of their throat (Estes, 1991). For the adult male this is a threat display (Estes, 1991)." from Primates.com
A gorilla roar is much more impressive.
Gorillas have many types of vocalizations. For more information, click here.
Gibbons
Gibbons probably have the most impressive voices. When visiting the Denver Zoo, the gibbons were always the ones you could hear in most places in the entire zoo. "All species of gibbons are known to produce elaborate, species-specific and sex-specific patterns of vocalisation often referred to as "songs" (Haimoff, 1984; Marshall & Marshall, 1976). Songs are loud and complex and are mainly uttered at specifically established times of day. In most species, mated pairs may characteristically combine their songs in a relatively rigid pattern to produce coordinated duet songs. Several functions have been attributed to gibbon songs, most of which emphasise a role in territorial advertisement, mate attraction and maintenance of pair and family bonds (Geissmann, 1999; Geissmann & Orgeldinger, 2000; Haimoff, 1984; Leighton, 1987)." from the Gibbon Research Lab.
Gibbons singing??
Impressive or annoying??!!
Orangutans - "Male orangutans exhibit a curious and little-understood case of “bimaturism,” also referred to as “arrested development.” This means that there are two “types” of mature male orangutans: flanged and unflanged males. A flanged male has big cheek pads on the sides of his face and a large pendulous throat sack under his chin. An unflanged male has neither of these traits, and his body is usually smaller. Unflanged males are sexually mature and fully able to father offspring; females, however, seem to prefer to mate with the flanged males. Because of this, unflanged males often resort to “forceful copulation” in order to attain matings. Meanwhile, flanged males emit loud booming “long calls’, presumably to attract receptive females as well as to let other males know their whereabouts. It is not fully understood exactly when and why a mature male undergoes the transformation from unflanged to flanged, or even if every male undergoes this transformation (although it seems likely that he does eventually). It has been hypothesized that the existence of a dominant flanged male within the sensory range of an unflanged male inhibits the unflanged male’s development (by stimulating release of special hormones?). Thus, not until the dominant flanged male dies, moves away, or is defeated, or the subadult male himself moves away or stays low, can the unflanged male develop his cheek pads and large size." from the Orangutan Foundation International.
Orangutan long call
Chimpanzee
"Dr. Jane Goodall’s long-term study of chimpanzee behavior at Gombe National Park helped scientists understand more about the diversity and meaning of chimpanzee calls. There are two types of chimpanzee calls:
Intraparty Calls – These calls take place between chimpanzees that are in the same group.
Distance Calls – These calls are made between groups that are separated, sometimes by a great distance.
One of the chimpanzee calls is the “pant-hoot.” Each individual chimpanzee has his or her own distinct pant-hoot. This helps other chimpanzees tell who is making the call even if they can’t see who is calling." from the Jane Goodall Institute.
"High-ranking adult males pant-hoot most frequently. Females sometimes produce pant-hoots on their own and often join in a chorus of pant-hoots when others are calling. Chimpanzees pant-hoot in a variety of circumstances, such as arriving at fruit trees, responding to distant pant-hoots, when joining other community members, and when traveling." Michael L. Wilson
Chimp pant-hoot
Gorilla
Gorillas are known for beating their chest, although to be honest it really doesn't sound too intimidating to humans. It sounds more like they are trying to imitate the sounds of horse hooves.. "This behavior is done by all gorillas and the either one or two open-fist hands are clapped against the chest (Estes, 1991). Adult males produce a sound when doing this because of air sacs they have which are located on both sides of their throat (Estes, 1991). For the adult male this is a threat display (Estes, 1991)." from Primates.com
A gorilla roar is much more impressive.
Gorillas have many types of vocalizations. For more information, click here.
Gibbons
Gibbons probably have the most impressive voices. When visiting the Denver Zoo, the gibbons were always the ones you could hear in most places in the entire zoo. "All species of gibbons are known to produce elaborate, species-specific and sex-specific patterns of vocalisation often referred to as "songs" (Haimoff, 1984; Marshall & Marshall, 1976). Songs are loud and complex and are mainly uttered at specifically established times of day. In most species, mated pairs may characteristically combine their songs in a relatively rigid pattern to produce coordinated duet songs. Several functions have been attributed to gibbon songs, most of which emphasise a role in territorial advertisement, mate attraction and maintenance of pair and family bonds (Geissmann, 1999; Geissmann & Orgeldinger, 2000; Haimoff, 1984; Leighton, 1987)." from the Gibbon Research Lab.
Gibbons singing??
Impressive or annoying??!!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Flashy Foliage
We're starting to get some color in the trees. One big tree in the neighborhood started changing color back in August - but due to the dry weather and not temperature - and has lost a lot of leaves already..
The one big tree in the mobile home park has lost some leaves already too. Here is a photo taken in September when it was just starting to turn.
Here's another photo taken just a few days ago.
Some trees are still green and others are already totally changed. Here's one that's half and half!
The burning bushes are living up to their name.
Here are a few more photos of trees around the neighborhood.
The one big tree in the mobile home park has lost some leaves already too. Here is a photo taken in September when it was just starting to turn.
Here's another photo taken just a few days ago.
Some trees are still green and others are already totally changed. Here's one that's half and half!
The burning bushes are living up to their name.
Here are a few more photos of trees around the neighborhood.
The temperature was down to 40 when I went to bed last night and about 35 when I got up this morning! Needless to say the heat was on all night long.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Murder on Manton Street
The story you are about to see is true; only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Saturday, September 27th, it was warm in Rhode Island. It was 2:00 pm when I went outside to get the mail. I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I witnessed the cat Marty, aka Romeo, throwing something up in the air. It was a chipmunk.
The suspect.
The victim.
It was only the second time I'd seen a chipmunk in the area. By the time I realized what the suspect was doing, it was too late. The chipmunk was a goner. The cat Albert, aka Tigger, was questioned regarding his complicity in the crime.
Eye witnesses saw the suspect eating part of the chipmunk later in the day.
By Sunday all evidence of the crime had disappeared. A roaming opossum was thought to be the suspect's accomplice.
The suspect was tried by a court in and for the County of Providence. Since evidence of the crime was lost, the suspect was acquitted and set free. We don’t even try to prove that crime doesn’t pay ... sometimes it does.
The suspect.
The victim.
It was only the second time I'd seen a chipmunk in the area. By the time I realized what the suspect was doing, it was too late. The chipmunk was a goner. The cat Albert, aka Tigger, was questioned regarding his complicity in the crime.
Eye witnesses saw the suspect eating part of the chipmunk later in the day.
By Sunday all evidence of the crime had disappeared. A roaming opossum was thought to be the suspect's accomplice.
The suspect was tried by a court in and for the County of Providence. Since evidence of the crime was lost, the suspect was acquitted and set free. We don’t even try to prove that crime doesn’t pay ... sometimes it does.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Generous Geese
September, the end of summer, cooler temperatures and the beginning of fall. Can't believe it's here already. Have been hearing lots of geese flying overhead lately - saw a pretty big flock just this morning. I found this interesting video about them and thought I would share it. Enjoy!
I wrote another post about geese about this time a few years ago. You can learn more about geese here.
I wrote another post about geese about this time a few years ago. You can learn more about geese here.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
More of the Same
Sorry but it's another butterfly bush post. The last few weeks I have been visited by THREE butterflies that are uncommon here in Rhode Island. You already saw the Red-Spotted Purple. Was also visited by a Spicebush Swallowtail.
and the Monarch-mimic, the Viceroy. Do you know the difference? Which is which??
The bottom two photos are the Viceroy. You can see that the Monarch has two rows of white spots around the edges of its wings while the Viceroy only has one row, among other differences.
I hadn't seen any Monarchs all summer long and was thinking just that when I looked out and saw one. Couldn't believe my eyes. And the next day I saw a second one - at least I'm pretty sure it was a second one because it had a broken hind wing and the first one didn't. The first visit almost ended in tragedy because as I was following it flying from blossom to blossom and snapping away it suddenly landed right next to a huge praying mantis!
The butterfly flitted away unharmed. I had just seen a big grasshopper right about where the praying mantis was sitting.
I think maybe THAT was lunch and it wasn't hungry anymore.
I've seen the Viceroy several times now and I think the Spicebush was just here again yesterday, but I didn't get a very good look at it. I'm sure you're hoping that this is the last butterfly bush post and it will be as long as I don't have any more surprise visitors.
and the Monarch-mimic, the Viceroy. Do you know the difference? Which is which??
The bottom two photos are the Viceroy. You can see that the Monarch has two rows of white spots around the edges of its wings while the Viceroy only has one row, among other differences.
I hadn't seen any Monarchs all summer long and was thinking just that when I looked out and saw one. Couldn't believe my eyes. And the next day I saw a second one - at least I'm pretty sure it was a second one because it had a broken hind wing and the first one didn't. The first visit almost ended in tragedy because as I was following it flying from blossom to blossom and snapping away it suddenly landed right next to a huge praying mantis!
The butterfly flitted away unharmed. I had just seen a big grasshopper right about where the praying mantis was sitting.
I think maybe THAT was lunch and it wasn't hungry anymore.
I've seen the Viceroy several times now and I think the Spicebush was just here again yesterday, but I didn't get a very good look at it. I'm sure you're hoping that this is the last butterfly bush post and it will be as long as I don't have any more surprise visitors.
Friday, September 5, 2014
The Demise of the Ugly Mushroom
Actually I'm not sure if what grew at my curb was a mushroom or a toadstool. It seemed like it just suddenly appeared and I never noticed a small version of it growing. but then that is the meaning of the phrase, 'it mushroomed'. I was surprised it grew at all since it's been so dry around here. My mushroom started out looking like a white bald man's head with veins and blood vessels showing and then we had some rain and it turned brown.
At one point I measured it and it was 4 inches across. It was around for a couple of weeks until one day I noticed that the cap had fallen off.
Not knowing whether it was poisonous or not and with all the stray cats and other critters around, I picked the cap up along with the stem, put them in a plastic bag and threw them in the garbage. Very weird, but very interesting.
At one point I measured it and it was 4 inches across. It was around for a couple of weeks until one day I noticed that the cap had fallen off.
Not knowing whether it was poisonous or not and with all the stray cats and other critters around, I picked the cap up along with the stem, put them in a plastic bag and threw them in the garbage. Very weird, but very interesting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)