Kangaroo vocalizations and communication

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Kangaroo Vocalizations: Types and Functions

Research shows that kangaroos do produce vocalizations, contrary to some earlier beliefs that they are generally silent animals. Both in the wild and in captivity, kangaroos have been observed making at least two distinct types of sounds under normal conditions, with occasional reports of a third sound type as well 23. These vocalizations serve important roles in their communication and social interactions.

Mother-Young Communication in Kangaroos

Isolation Calls in Eastern Grey and Red Kangaroos

Young eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) produce isolation calls, especially during their time in the pouch. These calls are structurally complex and can transmit a range of information, including the species, sex, age, arousal level, individual identity, and location of the caller . The primary function of these calls is to signal the mother and help her locate her young. However, as the young become more independent, the locational clarity of their calls decreases, likely as a strategy to avoid attracting predators .

Distress and Location Calls

When separated from their mothers, young red kangaroos emit distress calls characterized by repeated chirps with short pulses. These calls span a wide frequency range and are believed to function mainly as location calls, helping mothers find their offspring. There are also individual differences in the calls, which may allow for individual recognition between mother and young .

Individual Recognition and Evolution of Call Structure

While young kangaroos produce individually distinct calls, it appears that mothers may not rely solely on auditory cues for individual recognition. Differences in habitat may have influenced the evolution of call structures between species, suggesting that environmental factors play a role in shaping vocal communication in kangaroos .

Conclusion

Kangaroo vocalizations are more varied and functionally important than previously thought. Young kangaroos use complex calls to communicate with their mothers, mainly for location and possibly individual recognition. These vocalizations adapt as the young mature, balancing the need for maternal contact with the risk of attracting predators. Overall, vocal communication is a key part of kangaroo social behavior and survival strategies 1239.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Vocal Communication Between the Mother and Young of the Eastern Gray Kangaroo, Macropus-Giganteus, and the Red Kangaroo, M-Rufus (Marsupialia, Macropodidae)

The isolation call of eastern grey kangaroo and red kangaroo young serves as a key communication tool, identifying the young as dependent and potentially transmitting other information, such as species, sex, arousal, individual identity, age, and location.

Observational Study

1993·

7citations

·M. Baker et al.

Vocal Powers of Kangaroos.

Kangaroos make two distinct sounds, a 'hug' and a'snarl', under normal conditions, and occasionally a third,'snarl', which is a'snarl' sounded by a kangaroo in

1932·

2citations

·H. H. Finlayson

Vocal Powers and Eyes of Kangaroos

Kangaroos can produce normal sounds, and their eyes show refractive conditions similar to those of monotremes and marsupials.

1932·

0citations

·J. Barrett

Multimodal Interaction between a Mother and Her Twin Preterm Infants (Male and Female) in Maternal Speech and Humming during Kangaroo Care: A Microanalytical Case Study

Maternal touch during humming in kangaroo care, along with the infant's gender and visual and vocal behavior, can influence the tonal change of maternal speech or humming.

Rigorous Journal

2021·

1citation

·Eduarda Carvalho et al.

Vocal Sound Produced by the Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys spectabilis

Kangaroo rats produce a low chuckle when disturbed, but this sound is not consistent across species and may be a unique trait of the species.

1955·

6citations

·R. Gibbs

Linguistic and prosodic features of motherese and preterm infants' vocalizations during kangaroo care

Motherese features, such as tonal contours and infants' vocalizations, play a role in preterm infants' vocal responsiveness during kangaroo care in NICU.

2023·

1citation

·M. E. Carvalho et al.

Melodic contours of maternal humming to preterm infants in kangaroo care and infants’ overlapping vocalizations: A microanalytical study

Melodic contours of maternal humming to preterm infants during kangaroo care play a role in infants' vocal responsiveness and self-regulation, with a predominance of sinusoidal and bell-shaped contours.

2022·

3citations

·M. E. Carvalho et al.

Distress vocalizations of young of the red kangaroo, Megaleia rufa (Marsupialia: Macropodidae).

Young red kangaroos produce distress vocalizations, which may serve as location calls and allow individual recognition, when separated from their mothers.

1974·

0citations

·E. M. Russell et al.

Nest-associated vocal behaviours of the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne , and the Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo, C. lathami halmaturinus

Vocal recordings of endangered black cockatoos can provide valuable long-term information on their nesting behavior and habitat associations, aiding in bioacoustic monitoring programs.

2020·

3citations

·D. Teixeira et al.

Bouncing back? Kangaroo-human resistance in contemporary Australia

Kangaroos' resistance to domestication, farming, and culling challenges human assumptions about their worth, and their polysemic nature offers insights into animal life and death in contemporary Australia.

2022·

4citations

·Sophie Chao

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