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Vocal behaviour of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)
David J.
Sharpe A B,
Ross L.
Goldingay A
A
School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
B
Corresponding author. Email: davidsharpe3@bigpond.com
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Australian Journal of Zoology 57(1) 55–64 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO08075
Submitted: 16 September 2008
Accepted: 19 April 2009
Published online: 29 May 2009
Abstract
We describe the vocal behaviour of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) from 465 h of observation across five sites in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland. A monosyllabic or polysyllabic nasal grunt was the most frequent call (56% of 208 calls); it ranged from single calls to sequences of up to 20-min duration (mean 2.1 min ± 0.6, s.e.) and was heard on 34% of nights (n = 83) at two sites. The rate of the nasal grunt showed a positive relationship with population density at one site. The nasal grunt was typically made when conspecifics were near the caller, but responses were infrequent (7% of observations). Call playback produced no discernable change in call response. The nasal grunt appears to regulate individual spacing by facilitating mutual avoidance, a function hypothesised to be an evolutionary precursor to the use of calls in territorial defence. Threatening calls were the next most common vocalisation (17% of calls) and were accompanied by scuffles and/or chases. They were also used when gliders were preyed upon and during animal handling. The calling behaviour of the squirrel glider confirms the importance of vocal communication among petaurid gliders.
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