A memory like a female Fur Seal: long-lasting recognition of pup's voice by mothers

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências

Nicolas Mathevon¹  Isabelle Charrier¹  Thierry Aubin¹ 

[1] ,Université Paris-SudOrsay,France

关键词: acoustic communication;    individual recognition;    learning process;    Fur Seal;    mammals;    comunicação acústica;    reconhecimento individual;    processo de aprendizagem;    foca;    mamíferos;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0001-37652004000200007

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

In colonial mammals like fur seals, mutual vocal recognition between mothers and their pup is of primary importance for breeding success. Females alternate feeding sea-trips with suckling periods on land, and when coming back from the ocean, they have to vocally find their offspring among numerous similar-looking pups. Young fur seals emit a 'mother-attraction call' that presents individual characteristics. In this paper, we review the perceptual process of pup's call recognition by Subantarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus tropicalis mothers. To identify their progeny, females rely on the frequency modulation pattern and spectral features of this call. As the acoustic characteristics of a pup's call change throughout the lactation period due to the growing process, mothers have thus to refine their memorization of their pup's voice. Field experiments show that female Fur Seals are able to retain all the successive versions of their pup's call.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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