Or in some cases, Bernie, having evolved a sound signature, then adapted it
as a signal.
Pademelons, species of Thylogale, are miniature kangaroos - maximum
head-body length no more than half a metre. The Red-necked Pademelon (T.
thetis) was common in the rainforest of Tamborine Mountain in southern
Queensland where I grew up. They move on all four legs when moving slowly
but, like kangaroos, hop on their two hind legs for a faster gait. They
have definite pathways through the forest that they follow, recognisable by
the thinning or absence of leaf litter resulting from their use.
Normally their hopping gait is silent, but they audibly thump as they hop as
an alarm signal. (Rabbits also thump?)
BTW, pademelons do not use the quinqipedal slow gait of the big kangaroos:
3,2,3,2,... - alternating tail + forelegs, and hindlegs.
Syd Curtis in Brisbane, Australia
> From: Wild Sanctuary <>
> Reply-To:
> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 09:54:05 -0700
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] BBC radio series - The Sound of Life
>
> Problem, Walt, is that the human mind and intellect doesn't
> necessarily determine what the boundaries of "communication" are
> within the fold of the wild natural. I sort of figure that if an
> organism of any size evolved to emit a sound signature, it was a
> signal meant to be detected on some level by others, either of its
> own kind or different.
>
> Bernie
>
>
>
>
>> From: Wild Sanctuary <>
>>
>>>
>>> Goes back further than that, folks. We got insect larvae, and now,
>>> even virus signatures. They should hear the signature of earthworms
>>> doing their ritual soil-slither. Remember: the BBC is an authority.
>>
>> The hard part is deciding if it's deliberate communication, as opposed
>> to just sound produced incidentally. The question BBC was replying to
>> was when it became communication.
>>
>> I'd not be surprised at it being older than insects. But, right off
>> cannot think of a example that's clearly communication.
>>
>> Walt
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Microphones are not ears,
>> Loudspeakers are not birds,
>> A listening room is not nature."
>> Klas Strandberg
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
> P. O. Box 536
> Glen Ellen, California 95442-0536
> Tel: (707) 996-6677
> Fax: (707) 996-0280
> http://www.wildsanctuary.com
>
>
>
> "Microphones are not ears,
> Loudspeakers are not birds,
> A listening room is not nature."
> Klas Strandberg
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
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