Unusually extensive networks of vocal recognition in African Elephants

摘要: Research on acoustic communication has often focused signalling between territorial individuals or static neighbouring groups. Under these circumstances, receivers have the opportunity to learn recognize signals only of limited number conspecifics with which they are in auditory contact. In some mammals, however, social units move freely respect one another and range widely, providing opportunities a wide addition those their immediate neighbours. We conducted playback experiments African elephants, Loxodonta africana, Amboseli National Park, Kenya, determine extent adult female highly fluid system, can others population through infrasonic contact calls. Female elephants could distinguish calls family bond group members from females outside categories; moreover, also discriminate further removed than members, basis how frequently encountered them. estimated that subjects would be familiar mean 14 families (containing around 100 total), order perform discriminations. thus appear unusually extensive networks vocal recognition, may prove typical long-lived species both systems means for long-distance communication.