Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: The aye-aye is a rare lemur from Madagascar that uses its highly specialized middle digit for percussive foraging. This acoustic behavior, also termed tap-scanning, produces dominant frequencies between 6 and 15 kHz. An enhanced auditory sensitivity to these frequencies raises the possibility that the acoustic and auditory specializations of aye-ayes have imposed constraints on the evolution of their vocal signals, especially their primary long-distance vocalization, the screech. Here we explore this concept, termed receiver bias, and suggest that the dominant frequency of the screech call (~2.7 kHz) represents an evolutionary compromise between the opposing adaptive advantages of long-distance sound propagation and enhanced detection by conspecific receivers.
DOI: 10.4161/cib.21509
Authors: Marissa A. Ramsier, Nathaniel J. Dominy
Institutions: Cal Poly Humboldt, Dartmouth College
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,459
OpenAlex ID: W2034655411