EFFECT OF AGE AND TEMPERATURE ON THE VOCAL BEHAVIOR OF PUPS OF Ctenomys talarum (RODENTIA: CTENOMYIDAE)

SCHLEICH, C.E.

MASTOZOOLOGíA NEOTROPICAL

UNIDAD DE ZOOLOGÍA Y ECOLOGÍA ANIMAL, INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS ARIDAS, CRICYT, CONICET

Año: 2009 vol. 16 p. 247 - 252

0327-9383

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine if the rate of vocalizations emitted by isolated pups of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum vary with pups’ age and ambient temperature. As expected, the time that the pups spent begging during isolation decreased as they grew up. No statistical differences in the time spent begging were observed between pups at 25º C or 19º C. However the situation was different if the pup’s body weight was considered. In twelve analyzed periods, at thermoneutrality (25º C) the pup with lowest body weight of each litter vocalized only six times more than the others, while at low temperatures (19º C) the number rose to nine times. The meaning of these results, considering the main predictions of honest signaling models, is discussed. Ctenomys talarum vary with pups’ age and ambient temperature. As expected, the time that the pups spent begging during isolation decreased as they grew up. No statistical differences in the time spent begging were observed between pups at 25º C or 19º C. However the situation was different if the pup’s body weight was considered. In twelve analyzed periods, at thermoneutrality (25º C) the pup with lowest body weight of each litter vocalized only six times more than the others, while at low temperatures (19º C) the number rose to nine times. The meaning of these results, considering the main predictions of honest signaling models, is discussed.