Sex and species recognition by wild male southern white rhinoceros using contact pant calls.

摘要: Recognition of information from acoustic signals is crucial in many animals, and individuals are under selection pressure to discriminate between the conspecifics heterospecifics or males females. Here, we first report that rhinos use encoded their calls assess closely related species. The southern (Ceratotherium simum) critically endangered northern (C. cottoni) white most social out all rhinoceros species a contact call pant. We found rhino pant provide reliable about caller's sex, age class situation. Playback experiments on wild territorial revealed they responded more strongly conspecific females compared other males. This suggests important form communication than Territorial also discriminated female male reacted intensively might be caused by novelty effect since both naturally live allopatry. conclude can directly benefit assessing at long distances using vocal cues especially because eyesight poor. Pant thus likely play significant role relationships spatial organization. In addition, better understanding helpful conservation management particularly low reproduction captivity.