Vocal patterns of adult females and juveniles Caiman yacare(Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) in Brazilian Pantanal wetland

摘要: The Paraguayan caiman (Caiman yacare) is the main Caimaninae species occurring in Brazilian Pantanal Wetland. Despite relative availability of works focused on biology and conservation caiman, almost nothing known about its vocal structure behavior. We recorded aggressive calls adult females guarding nests and, afterwards, distress new born juvenile caimans seasonally flooded areas Nhecolândia (Southern Pantanal). results both observations sonographic analyses diverged from studies with other crocodilian species. Aggressive vocalization was longer more complex than same larger Alligatoridae Vocalizations young presented interspecific differences offsprings. Moreover, we found statistically significant intraspecific variation call among different pods, even separated by few kilometers. Differences were tested Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA). obtained squared Mahalanobis distances between acoustic multivariate spaces each pod provided CDA compared geographic distance bays origin through Mantel Test. itself did not explain pods. positively responded to playbacks pods regions, as well rough imitations call. Since showed protective responses quite heterogeneous vocalizations juveniles, hypothesized that pattern may be associated a low specificity sound recognition caimans.