Acoustic models of orangutan hand-assisted alarm calls

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Bart de BoerAdriano R Lameira

Abstract

Orangutans produce alarm calls called kiss-squeaks, which they sometimes modify by putting a hand in front of their mouth. Through theoretical models and observational evidence, we show that using the hand when making a kiss-squeak alters the acoustics of the production in such a way that more formants per kilohertz are produced. Our theoretical models suggest that cylindrical wave propagation is created with the use of the hand and face as they act as a cylindrical extension of the lips. The use of cylindrical wave propagation in animal calls appears to be extremely rare, but is an effective way to lengthen the acoustic system; it causes the number of resonances per kilohertz to increase. This increase is associated with larger animals, and thus using the hand in kiss-squeak production may be effective in exaggerating the size of the producer. Using the hand appears to be a culturally learned behavior, and therefore orangutans may be able to associate the acoustic effect of using the hand with potentially more effective deterrence of predators.

References

Aug 17, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·W T Fitch, D Reby
Jan 4, 2003·Science·Carel P van SchaikMichelle Merrill
Aug 7, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Madeleine E HardusSerge A Wich
Dec 17, 2009·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Bart de Boer
Oct 25, 2011·Current Biology : CB·Michael KrützenCarel P van Schaik
Jan 1, 1995·American Journal of Primatology·W Tecumseh Fitch, Marc D Hauser

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Citations

Jul 28, 2016·Scientific Reports·Adriano R LameiraRobert W Shumaker
Jan 30, 2020·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Adriano R Lameira, Josep Call
Oct 3, 2020·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Wim PouwJames A Dixon

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