Can harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) discriminate familiar conspecific calls after long periods of separation?

ABSTRACT: The ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar calls may play a key role in pinnipeds' communication and survival, as in the case of mother-pup interactions. Vocal discrimination abilities have been suggested to be more developed in pinniped species with the highest selective pressure such as the otariids; yet, in some group-living phocids, such as harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), mothers are also able to recognize their pup's voice. Conspecifics' vocal recognition in pups has never been investigated; however, the repeated interaction occurring between pups within the breeding season suggests that long-term vocal discrimination may occur. Here we explored this hypothesis by presenting three rehabilitated seal pups with playbacks of vocalizations from unfamiliar or familia

SUBMITTER: Varola M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8601051 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature