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Cited by 12Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorPhysiological and biochemical adaptationsAmphibian and Reptile Biology

Temperature Influences on Hatchling Caiman crocodilus Distress Calls

Garrick, Leslie D., Garrick, Rita Anne·1978·Physiological Zoology
DOI 10.1086/physzool.51.2.30157859
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Abstract

Hatchling Caiman crocodilus fuscus were tested for their tendency to emit a distress call and show an extension reflex as they were held by the base of the tail at cloacal temperatures (Tc) ranging from 7 to 36 C. The low Tc threshold for the distress call was about 9 C and for the extension reflex, 9.9 C. There is no apparent upper Tc threshold for the distress call. However, no vocalizations were emitted above 33 C, perhaps because gular pulsations overrode their expression. The duration of the distress call, which consists of three or four distinct bands between 0.2 and 2.4 kHz, and the duration of the intercall interval both decreased with increasing Tc. In contrast, repetition rate was stable over a broad range of Tc (18–33 C), and the spectral composition of the calls also was unchanged over a range of 12.8–33.0 C. Temperature independence of sound energy distribution and stability of repetition rate are deemed adaptations which reduce the ambiguity in the distress call signal to the receiver, provided that the auditory system of the receiver is similarly responsive to temperacure. Low-temperature functioning of neuromuscular systems would appear to be advantageous for small crocodilians, whose body temperature fluctuates more than the body temperature of larger animals.

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Crossref · 10.1086/physzool.51.2.30157859

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23 of 23 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The contexts for hissing in crocodylians are highly variable and include aggression, defence and courtship.

    “Additionally, the contexts for hissing in crocodylians are highly variable and include aggression, defence and courtship (Garrick and Lang 1977; Garrick et al. 1978; Wang et al. 2007; Dinets 2010).”

    From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Garrick et al. 1978

  • Differences in acoustic signalling syntax may allow species identification and potentially contain contextual, individual and/or behavioural information.

    “Differences in acoustic signalling syntax (i.e., the sequence of signal elements) may allow species identification and potentially contain contextual, individual and/or behavioural information (Garrick et al. 1978; Kershenbaum et al. 2016).”

    From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Garrick et al. 1978

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Authors
Garrick, L. D., & Garrick, R. A.
Venue
Physiological Zoology
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Published
1978-04
Volume
51
Issue
2
Pages
105-113
ISSN
0031-935X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1086/physzool.51.2.30157859
OpenAlex
W2318109022
Cited by
12
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Physiological Zoology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Keywords
Caiman crocodilus fuscus, distress calls, vocalizations, body temperature, cloacal temperature, call duration, repetition rate, spectral composition, signal ambiguity, auditory system, neuromuscular function

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