Structural variability in primate vocalizations and its functional significance: an analysis of squirrel monkey chuck calls.

J. D. Newman, H. J. Smith, G. Talmage-Riggs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sound spectrograms of vocalizations recorded from 'Gothic arch' squirrel monkeys were examined for shared structural characteristics. A rapidly descending element, the 'mast', was found to be diagnostic for a group of variable but structurally similar vocalizations called chucks. In addition to the mast, a variable FM element ('flag') and a terminal noisy element ('cackle') formed a basic 3-element structural unit. A review of functional studies suggests that this flag-mast-cackle structure is used by the squirrel monkey and a variety of other New World primates in circumstances involving close social contact.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)114-124
Number of pages11
JournalFolia Primatologica
Volume40
Issue number1-2
StatePublished - 1983
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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