Vocal Repertoire in the Dhole Cuon alpinus (Carnivora, Canidae) in Captivity

Abstract

Three independent structural components form the dhole vocal repertoire: low tonal, high tonal, and pulsed. The repertoire was divided into three vocal classes and eleven call types based on the occurrence of these components. Two broadband signals with a pronounced pulsed pattern were referred to the pulsed vocal class. Two vocal types involving the high component within the band 6-9 kHz were assigned to the class with the component of high frequency. The other seven types with a distinct component of low frequency were positioned to the class of tonal signals. The vocal components differed by their contribution to the structural variability of the vocal reper- toire as a whole. The high variability of the low tonal component results in a structural radiation to a few vocal types, whereas both high tonal and pulsed components follow the one or zero principle, i.e. a component is pres- ent or absent. The fact that different components may be produced simultaneously makes it possible to suppose that they arise from various vocal sources. A general scheme of structural transitions between different vocal types in the dhole has been developed on the basis of the structural analysis of signals and their relation to a certain situa- tion.