title: In-air vocal repertoires of spotted seals, Phoca largha.
abstract: Spotted seals (Phoca largha) are thought to be less vocal than other phocids. However, acoustic communication behaviors of spotted seals have been reported several times. In this study, the vocal repertoires of spotted seals housed in Dalian Sun Aquarium, China were recorded and analyzed. The frequencies of the sounds made by the seals ranged from 139.3 to 2323.1 Hz, and the time durations lasted from 92.8 to 1208 ms, depending on age and gender (P < 0.01). The peak-to-peak sound source levels were 109-124 dB re 20μPa. In total, seven vocal types were identified: pup call, yearling call, bark, growl, grunt, moo, and throat guttural. The pups emitted sounds with high frequencies (F1: 972.4 ± 374.4 Hz, mean ± standard deviation) and medial time durations (564 ± 178 ms); when the pups grew older, the sounds became yearling calls, which had high frequencies with median (interquartile range) of 1198.0 (821.7-1385.5) Hz; and long time durations [902 (745-1080) ms]. The male adults emitted sounds with low frequencies [430.2 (388.2-486.7) Hz] and short time durations [334 (233-599) ms], while the female adults emitted sounds with medial frequencies [814.5 (592.6-1024.3) Hz] and medial time durations [531 (336-688) ms].
authors: Sanya Key Laboratory of Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.
authors: Peijun
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Computer Teaching Center, Sanya University, Sanya 572000, China.
authors: Jiaojiao
authors: J
authors: Lu
authors: Sanya Key Laboratory of Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.
authors: Songhai
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Ecology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian 116023, China.
authors: Jiabo
authors: J
authors: Han
authors: Dalian Sun Asia Tourism Holding Company, Limited, Dalian 116023, China.
authors: Qinguo
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: MOE Key Lab of Underwater Acoustic Communication and Marine Information Technology, Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China.
authors: Liangliang
authors: L
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046049:Phoca / Q000502:physiology*; D010700:Phonetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014828:Vocalization, Animal