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Cited by 41Animal Vocal Communication and BehaviorMarine animal studies overviewComparative Animal Anatomy Studies

Acoustic signals of Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis): Social communication

Wang, Xianyan, Wang, Ding, Wu, Xiaobing, Wang, Renping, Wang, Chaolin·2007·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
DOI 10.1121/1.2714910
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Abstract

This paper reports the first systematic study of acoustic signals during social interactions of the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). Sound pressure level (SPL) measurements revealed that Chinese alligators have an elaborate acoustic communication system with both long-distance signal-bellowing-and short-distance signals that include tooting, bubble blowing, hissing, mooing, head slapping and whining. Bellows have high SPL and appear to play an important role in the alligator's long range intercommunion. Sounds characterized by low SPL are short-distance signals used when alligators are in close spatial proximity to one another. The signal spectrographic analysis showed that the acoustic signals of Chinese alligators have a very low dominant frequency, less than 500 Hz. These frequencies are consistent with adaptation to a habitat with high density vegetation. Low dominant frequency sound attenuates less and could therefore cover a larger spatial range by diffraction in a densely vegetated environment relative to a higher dominant frequency sound.

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Crossref · 10.1121/1.2714910

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40 of 40 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The 'Moo' reported by Staniewicz et al. (2023) and Wang et al. (2007) appeared to exhibit distinct spectrographic characteristics, suggesting they may represent acoustically different call types.

    “Upon examination of the spectrograms, the signal, referred to as a ‘Moo’ by both Staniewicz et al. (2023) and Wang et al. (2007) appeared to exhibit distinct spectrographic characteristics, suggesting it may represent acoustically different call types.”

    From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Wang et al. (2007)

  • It is unknown whether crocodylians produce hissing via the mouth or the nose.

    “Hissing in particular is intriguing, as it is unknown whether animals produce this signal via the mouth (Garrick and Lang 1977) or the nose (Wang et al. 2007).”

    From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Wang et al. 2007

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Authors
Wang, X., Wang, D., Wu, X., Wang, R., & Wang, C.
Affiliations
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • Anhui Normal University (CN)
  • Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction , Xuancheng 242034, People’s Republic of China
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Publisher
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
Published
2007-05-01
Volume
121
Issue
5
Pages
2984-2989
ISSN
  • 0001-4966 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-8524
DOI
10.1121/1.2714910
OpenAlex
W2016331159
Cited by
41
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS Institutional Repository (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Institute of Hydrobiology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Marine animal studies overview
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
Keywords
Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis, acoustic communication, vocalizations, sound pressure level, long-distance signaling, bubble blowing, hissing, dominant frequency, habitat adaptation
MeSH terms
Acoustics, Alligators and Crocodiles, Animals, Animal Communication, Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior

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