CORAT, Clara et al. The whistles of the guinea pig: an evo-devo proposal. Rev. etol. []. 2012, 11, 1, pp.46-55. ISSN 1517-2805.

When separated from their mother, wild and domestic cavy pups emit high-pitched whistles. Whistles are also emitted only by the domestic species in response to food-associated stimuli. We compared isolation whistles (IS) emitted by guinea pig pups separated from their mothers to the food-anticipation whistles (FA) emitted by the same adult individuals in response to a feeding routine. Results revealed no significant differences in the structure of the IS and FA whistles, but showed ontogenetic changes along the period. Results are discussed both in relation to the physiological mechanisms controlling whistle vocalizations and their evolutionary origin in the cavies repertoire.

: isolation call; whistle; domestication; food-associated call; parental behavior; bioacoustics.

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