Ultrasonic Vocalizations by the Spectral Tarsier, Tarsius spectrum

Abstract

Although the vocalizations of spectral tarsiers have been studied for over 3 decades by numerous primatologists, the data in this paper represent the first evidence that this species communicates in the ultrasonic range. In addition, this paper characterizes the types of ultrasonic vocalizations by spectral tarsiers, Tarsius spectrum. Data were collected at Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia, from January through April 2013. Recordings were made on a Wildlife Acoustics Ultrasonic Song Meter BAT2 from 10 groups of varying sizes and compositions. The ultrasonic recorder was placed at the base of the group's sleeping tree and recorded from 5.00 to 7.00 h using an omnidirectional microphone. The ultrasonic vocalizations fell into 5 main categories: chirps, twitters, choruses, doubles and whistles. Chirps were the most frequent ultrasonic vocalizations, followed by twitters, choruses, doubles and then whistles. While chirps, twitters and choruses extended from the audible to the ultrasonic range, the doubles and whistles were pure ultrasound. Currently, the function of these ultrasonic vocalizations is not yet clear and requires additional research.

Multimodal pair‐bond maintenance: A review of signaling across modalities in pair‐bonded nonhuman primates

“…Body size may physiologically limit loud call production (Fitch & Hauser, 1995; Pollock, 1986), yet duetting occurs in species as small as Sulawesi tarsiers ( Tarsius sp . ; Gursky, 2015; MacKinnon & MacKinnon, 1980; Nietsch, 1999), and as large as siamangs ( Symphalangus syndactylus ; Lappan, 2007; Palombit, 1996). Acoustic adaptations may enable the proliferation of duets or loud‐calls, such as laryngeal sacs to increase the amplitude and carrying distance of loud‐calls in siamangs and indris (Fitch & Hauser, 1995; Pollock, 1986), or ultrasonic components (which lie outside the hearing parameters of potential predators) in fat‐tailed dwarf lemurs and tarsiers ( Cheirogaleus medius , Cherry, Izard, & Simons, 1987; T. spectrum , Gursky, 2015).…”

“…In some cases, the status of a conspecific stranger as either a random individual or one with the potential to replace a pair-mate has a strong effect on the behavioral responses of the pair to the presence of a stranger (Fernandez-Duque, Valeggia, & Mason, 2000). Additionally, when duets differ by sex and species, like in small, cryptic tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum and Tarsius dianae; Nietsch, 1999), duet differentiation may also provide identification markers during boundary encounters (e.g., Gursky, 2015;MacKinnon & MacKinnon, 1980;Nietsch, 1999).…”

Functional Morphology of Mimetic Musculature in Primates: How Social Variables and Body Size Stack up to Phylogeny

“…Muscles of the ear are used in part to move the external ear in hearing functions as well as agonistic displays (e.g., Charles-Dominique, 1977;Burrows & Smith, 2003). Many of the prosimian taxa are noted for their rich vocal repertoire used in long-distance communication (Zimmermann, 1990;Gursky, 2003Gursky, , 2015.…”

The Use of Ultrasonic Communication to Maintain Social Cohesion in the Javan Slow Loris (Nycticebus javanicus)

“…Amongst primates, smaller taxa predominantly use calls with ultrasonic components including Callithrix, Carlito, Cebuella, Cheirogaleus, Galago and Microcebus, with only two genera larger than 1 kg known to use such calls -Nycticebus and Prolemur. Only two species of primates, both haplorhines, are reported to produce vocalisations purely in the ultrasonic range: the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) and the spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) [Braune et al, 2005;Ramsier et al, 2012b;Gursky-Doyen, 2013;Gursky, 2015]. With the exception of Gursky [2015], all previous studies of ultrasonic communication in these primates have been conducted in captive or semi-captive settings.…”