Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Loud calls ofGalago crassicaudatus andG. garnettii and their relation to habitat structure

  • Published:
Primates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Long distance vocalizations have been shown to be good indicators of genetic species in primates. Here the loud calls of two recently identified greater galago taxa —Galago crassicaudatus andG. garnettii — are compared and analyzed statistically. Observed differences in call structures are investigated further as potential indicators of differences in the structures of habitats frequented by the two species.

Although the calls share a repetitive structure, and show similar dominant frequency bands (1,000 – 1,500 Hz), they differ significantly in the number of units per call, unit duration, inter-unit interval, highest frequency, lowest frequency, dominant frequency band, first harmonic, and call duration. The duration of theG. crassicaudatus call is more than twice that ofG. garnettii. Strong intraspecific consistency is seen in the most energetic frequency bands (dominant frequency band and first harmonic), and durations of the individual units and inter-unit intervals. Information important to species recognition is thus most likely to be contained in these features. Individual recognition may be encoded in the relative emphasis of higher level harmonics.

The frequency structures of the calls will reflect requirements for acoustical transmission in a forest environment, as well as structural constraints imposed by body size. Higher frequencies detected in theG. garnettii call (up to 8,500 Hz) may have a functional significance related to distance estimation, or may simply be a reflection of smaller body size. The greater modulation of theG. garnettii call suggests that its habitat constitutes a denser or more turbulent medium for sound transmission than does the habitat ofG. crassicaudatus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bearder, S. K., 1974. Aspects of the ecology and behaviour of the thick-tailed bushbaby,Galago crassicaudatus. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C. H., 1982. Auditory localization and primate vocal behavior. In:Primate Communication,C. T. Snowdon,C. H. Brown, &M. R. Petersen (eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 144–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buettner-Janusch, J., 1964. The breeding of galagos in captivity and some notes on their behavior.Folia Primatol., 2: 93–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charles-Dominique, P., 1977.Ecology and Behaviour of Nocturnal Primates, Duckworth, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A. B., 1975. Olfactory communication by scent marking in a prosimian primate,Galago crassicaudatus. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of Chicago, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1978. Olfactory communication,Galago crassicaudatus, and the social life of prosimians. In:Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 3,D. J. Chivers &K. A. Joysey (eds.), Academic Press, London, pp. 109–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Boer, L. E. M., 1973. Cytotaxonomy of the Lorisoidea (Primates: Prosimii). I. Chromosome studies and karyological relationships in the Galagidae.Genetica, 44: 155–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixson, A. F. &R. N. van Horn, 1977. Comparative studies of morphology and reproduction in two subspecies of the Greater bushbaby,Galago crassicaudatus crassicaudatus andG.c. argentatus.J. Zool., 183: 517–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, G. A., 1978. Discussion of behavioural factors in prosimian evolution. In:Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 3,D. J. Chivers &K. A. Joysey (eds.), Academic Press, London, pp. 151–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaglen, R. H. &E. L. Simons, 1980. Notes on the breeding biology of thick-tailed and silvery galagos in captivity.J. Mammal., 61: 534–537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harcourt, C. S., 1984. The behaviour and ecology of galagos in Kenyan coastal forest. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of Cambridge, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— &L. T. Nash, 1986. Species differences in substrate use and diet between sympatric galagos in two Kenyan coastal forests.Primates, 27: 41–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heffner, H. &B. Masterton, 1970. Hearing in primitive primates: slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) and potto (Perodicticus potto).J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 71: 175–182.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ————,R. J. Ravizza, &B. Masterton, 1969. Hearing in primitive mammals. IV. Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis).J. Auditory Res., 9: 19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, W. C. O., 1953.Primates: Comparative Anatomy and Taxonomy. I. Strepsirhini. Univ. of Edinburgh Press, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kummer, H., 1970. Behavioral characters in primate taxonomy. In:Old World Monkeys: Evolution, Systematics, and Behavior,J. R. Napier &P. H. Napier (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marler, P., 1978. Vocal ethology of primates: implications for psychophysics and psychophysiology. In:Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 1,D. J. Chivers &J. Herbert (eds.), Academic Press, London, pp. 795–801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J. T., Jr. &E. R. Marshall, 1976. Gibbons and their territorial songs.Science, 193: 235–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marten, K. &P. Marler, 1977. Sound transmission and its significance for animal vocalization. I. Temperate habitats.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 2: 271–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————,D. Quine, &P. Marler, 1977. Sound transmission and its significance for animal vocalization. II. Tropical forest habitats.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 2: 291–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, J. C., 1985. Species within the taxonGalago crassicaudatus E. Geoffroy. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1986. Geographic distributions of karyotypes and morphotypes within the greater galagines.Folia Primatol., 46: 127–141.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1988. Speciation in the greater galagos (Prosimii: Galaginae): review and synthesis.Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 34: 149–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— &D. S. Dunn, 1988. Distribution of erythrocytic allozymes in two sibling species of greater galago [Galago crassicaudatus E. Geoffroy 1812 andG. garnettii (Ogilby 1838)].Amer. J. Primatol., 14: 235–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———— &D. Lubinsky, 1988. Morphological clues to genetic species: multivariate analysis of greater galago sibling species.Amer. J. Phys. Anthropol., 75: 37–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ————,W. H. R. Lumsden, &D. A. Young, 1988. Reproductive and dietary parameters in wild greater galago populations.Int. J. Primatol., 9: 573–592.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen, A., 1978. Sound reception in different environments. In:Sensory Ecology: Review and Perspectives,M. A. Ali (ed.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 345–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, E. S., 1975. Ecological sources of selection on avian sounds.Amer. Naturalist, 109: 17–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nash, L. T., 1983. Reproductive patterns in galagos (Galago zanzibaricus andGalago garnettii) in relation to climatic variability.Amer. J. Primatol., 5: 181–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oates, J. F. &T. F. Trocco, 1983. Taxonomy and phylogeny of black-and-white colobus monkeys: inferences from an analysis of loud call variation.Folia Primatol., 40: 83–113.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, T. R., 1979. Studies on aspects of the morphology of the genusOtolemur. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of London, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasztor, L. M. &R. N. van Horn, 1976. Twinning in prosimians.J. Human Evol., 5: 333–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— & ————, 1977. Intraspecific chromosomal variation withinGalago crassicaudatus (Galaginae).J. Human Evol., 6: 569–573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, H. E. H., 1978. More evidence against speciation by reinforcement.S. Afr. J. Sci., 74: 369–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1980. A comment on “mate recognition systems”.Evolution, 34: 330–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1985. The recognition concept of species. In:Species and Speciation,E. S. Vrba (ed.), Transvaal Museum Monograph No. 4, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, pp. 21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petter, J. -J. &P. Charles-Dominique, 1979. Vocal communication in prosimians. In:The Study of Prosimian Behavior,G. A. Doyle &R. D. Martin (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 247–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, D. G. &R. H. Wiley, 1980. Reverberations and amplitude fluctuations in the propagation of sound in a forest: implications for animal communication.Amer. Naturalist, 115: 381–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, E., 1931. On the African long-tailed lemurs or galagos.Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Series 10), 7: 41–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, W. C., 1978. Hearing of the Primates. In:Recent Advances in Primatology, Vol. 1,D. J. Chivers &J. Herbert (eds.), Academic Press, London, pp. 705–720.

    Google Scholar 

  • Struhsaker, T. T., 1970. Phylogenetic implications of some vocalizations ofCercopithecus monkeys. In:Old World Monkeys: Evolution, Systematics, and Behavior,J. R. Napier &P. H. Napier (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 365–444.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandy, J. M., 1974. Behaviour and social structure in a laboratory colony ofGalago crassicaudatus. In:Prosimian Biology,R. D. Martin,G. A. Doyle, &A. C. Walker (eds.), Duckworth, London, pp. 245–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • ————, 1976. Communication inGalago crassicaudatus.Primates, 17: 513–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, O. &R. C. Wroughton, 1908. The Rudd Exploration of South Africa. IX. List of mammals obtained by Mr. Grant on the Gorongoza Mountains, Portuguese S. E. Africa.Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1908: 164–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waser, P. M., 1982. The evolution of male loud calls among mangabeys and baboons. In:Primate Communication,C. T. Snowdon,C. H. Brown, &M. R. Petersen (eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 117–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———— &C. H. Brown, 1986. Habitat acoustics and primate communication.Amer. J. Primatol., 10: 135–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———— &M. S. Waser, 1977. Experimental studies of primate vocalization: specializations for long-distance propagation.Zeit. Tierpsychol., 43: 239–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiley, R. H. &D. G. Richards, 1982. Adaptations for acoustic communication in birds: sound transmission and signal detection. In:Acoustic Communication in Birds, Vol. 1,D. E. Kroodsma,E. H. Miller, &H. Ouellet (eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 131–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann, E., S. K. Bearder, G. A. Doyle, &A. B. Andersson, 1989. Variations in vocal patterns of Senegal and South African lesser bushbabies and their implications for taxonomic relationships.Folia Primatol., 51: 87–105.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. C. Masters

    Present address: College of Science, University of Witwatersrand, 2050, Wits, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. J. C. Masters
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Masters, J.C. Loud calls ofGalago crassicaudatus andG. garnettii and their relation to habitat structure. Primates 32, 153–167 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381173

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02381173

    Key Words

    Search

    Navigation