Estimated source intensity and active space of the American alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) vocal display
Abstract
In this article the results are reported of a study to measure the intensity of the vocal displays of a population of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). It was found that the dominant frequencies in air range between 20 and 250 Hz with a source sound pressure level (SPL) of 91-94 dB at 1 m. The active space for the air-borne component is defined by the background and was estimated to be in a range up to 159 m in the 125-200 Hz band. For the water-borne component the dominant frequency range was 20-100 Hz with a source SPL of 121-125 dB at 1 m. The active space in water is defined by hearing thresholds and was estimated to range up to 1.5 km in the 63-100 Hz band. In the lowest frequency bands, i.e., 16-50 Hz, the estimated active space for otolith detection of near-field particle motion in water ranged to 80 m, which compared significantly with far-field detection for these frequencies. It is suggested that alligator vocal communication may involve two distinct sensory mechanisms which may subserve the functions of scene analysis and reproduction, respectively.
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Only four studies have explicitly measured underwater acoustic signals for any crocodylian species worldwide.
“only four studies (Todd 2007; Staniewicz et al. 2022, 2023; Ajji and Lang 2025) have explicitly measured these for any crocodylian species worldwide.”
From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Todd 2007
Acoustic signals are detected by individuals differently in air (by ear) than underwater (likely by bone conduction), resulting in a broader range of frequencies being detected in air, but over longer propagation distances underwater.
“Acoustic signals are detected by individuals differently in air (by ear) than underwater (likely by bone conduction) (Higgs et al. 2002), which results in a broader range of frequencies being detected in air, but over longer propagation distances underwater (Higgs et al. 2002; Todd 2007).”
From Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals (2026) · cites this paper as Todd 2007
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- Authors
- Todd, N. P. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Todd, Neil P. McAngus
- Venue
- The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
- Publisher
- Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
- Published
- 2007-11-01
- Volume
- 122
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 2906-2915
- ISSN
- 0001-4966 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-8524
- OpenAlex
- W2056733200
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- Alligator mississippiensis, vocal display, vocal communication, source intensity, active space, sound pressure level, dominant frequency, underwater acoustic propagation, particle motion, hearing threshold, scene analysis, reproduction
- MeSH terms
- Air, Alligators and Crocodiles, Animals, Auditory Threshold, Male, Models, Theoretical, Noise, Sound Spectrography, Vocalization, Animal, Water
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