Acoustic communication in four species of subgenus Alexandromys (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

Abstract

The acoustic communication in four species of voles of the subgenus Alexandromys (Microtus oeconomus, M. limnophilus, M. maximowiczii, and M. middendorffii) includes two signals: squeaks in the context of discomfort, and singing during courtship for the female. Comparison of signal parameters shows a rather large similarity in the structure of sounds, especially between the lacustrine and Middendorf's voles, the squeaks of which have almost no differences in characteristics when using discriminant analysis. The most different in the squeak parameters is the root vole, which has recently been included in the subgenus Alexandromys. Singing is the most characteristic element of sexual behavior among species of the subgenus along with other behavioral characteristics of species and is used by animals more often than voles of subgenera Microtus and Sumeriomys. How to cite this article: Rutovskaya M.V. 2020. Acoustic communication in four species of subgenus Alexandromys // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.19. No.1. P.21–36. doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.19.1.02.