Biology and Conservation of Prosimians
International Conference held at The North of England Zoological Society, Chester, September 13-16, 1995
Editors: Caroline S. Harcourt, Chester; Robin Huw Crompton, Liverpool; Anna T.C. Feistner, Jersey

Species and Speciation: Reviewed Article

Role of Vocalization in Species Differentiation of Sulawesi Tarsiers
Alexandra Nietsch^a, Marie-Luise Kopp<sup>b

a</sup>AG Humanbiologie, und
^bAG Verhaltensbiologie, Freie Universität, Berlin, Deutschland

Address of Corresponding Author

Folia Primatol 1998;69:371-378 (DOI: 10.1159/000052725)

  Key Words

• Taxonomy
• Behaviour
• Vocal duets
• Tarsius spectrum
• Tarsius dianae
• Togian Islands
• Playback experiments

  Abstract

Recent work on the tarsiers of Sulawesi indicates that the degree of species differentiation is greater than has hitherto been thought. This is indicated by the acoustic differences between the vocal duets of mated pairs of Tarsius spectrum, Tarsius dianae and tarsiers from the Togian Islands (Tomini Bay, Sulawesi). This paper presents further evidence of taxonomic differentiation, based on the vocal behaviour shown during playback experiments. Six adult T. spectrum, kept in captivity, were stimulated by the playback of duets of their own species, those of T. dianae and those of Togian tarsiers. The results show that T. spectrum discriminates between the vocalizations of conspecifics and heterospecifics. The behavioural responses of the test subjects to playback of the various duets suggest that T. spectrum is unlikely to interbreed with either T. dianae or with the Togian tarsiers. This not only confirms the taxonomic differentiation between T. spectrum and T. dianae, but also supports the specific status of the Togian tarsiers.

  Author Contacts

A. Nietsch
Freie Universität Berlin
Institut für Anthropologie und Humanbiologie
Fabeckstrasse 15, D-14195 Berlin (Germany)
Tel. 030 838 2002, Fax 030 838 6556

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 25