Vocalization of sex partners in the house mouse (Mus Musculus)

• Published in: Journal of evolutionary biochemistry and physiology Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 324 - 331
• Main Authors: Lupanova, A. S., Egorova, M. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.07.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal communication; Animal Physiology; Animal reproduction; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Comparative and Ontogenic Physiology; Evolutionary Biology; Life Sciences; Mus musculus; Rodents; sound and ultrasound vocalizations in rodents; sexual behavior; house mouse; vocalization acoustic structure
• ISSN: 0022-0930; 1608-3202
• DOI: 10.1134/S0022093015040080

Acoustic parameters of the house mouse male and female vocalizations accompanying the sexual behavior were studied. The spectral-temporal analysis of female defensive calls and male ultrasonic calls was conducted on adult house mice, CBA and C57BL/6 hybrid strains. The principal feature of the female defensive call was its harmonic structure formed by three–five fundamental harmonics with the fundamental frequency of about 3 kHz. The signal energy was concentrated in the frequency range below 25 kHz. The basic harmonic structure could be modified by frequency and amplitude modulations and/or noise. The call duration varied widely from 40 to 470 ms and averaged 180 ± 70 ms. The principal feature of the male ultrasonic vocalization was its low intensity and poorly defined noise components. Depending on the call’s semantic load, its fundamental frequency averaged 67.3 ± 8.5 or 45.6 ± 3.7 kHz. Male ultrasonic vocalizations were shorter than female defensive calls and their duration did not exceed 220 ms.