Seismic communication in the blind subterranean mole‐rat: patterns of head thumping and of their detection in the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel

G. Heth, E. Frankenberg, H. Pratt, E. Nevo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Patterns of seismic communication and somatosensory responses were studied in four chromosomal species (2n= 52, 54, 58, 60) of blind subterranean mole‐rats, belonging to the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. The patterns involved head thumping signals and surface‐recorded cerebral potentials evoked by vibrational signals. The patterns correspond to the differences in territory size and population density which characterize the four species. It is suggested that this correspondence is related to the adaptive significance of the seismic communication.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)633-638
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Zoology
Volume224
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Animal Science and Zoology

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