A new study by the CONICET revealed an unprecedented characteristic in an endangered species in Argentina: the colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis).
Scientists identified ultrasonic vocalizations in this underground rodent endemic to Neuquén that lives exclusively in the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
This discovery revolutionizes the understanding of how animals that live underground communicate.
The colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis) is an endangered species that possesses a wide repertoire of high-frequency sounds, inaudible to the human ear.
How is the ultrasonic communication of the colonial tuco-tuco
Unlike other tuco-tuco species that are solitary, the colonial tuco-tuco lives in groups.
These rodents share the same underground galleries and use a single common nest, which favors their social interactions.
Recordings showed that individuals produce these vocalizations when they are in close contact with members of their own colony, especially during non-aggressive interactions.
“Most of the vocalizations occur when the male and at least one female are together“, notes Amaya.
Juan Ignacio Areta, director of the work and CONICET researcher, explains that “this contrasts significantly with the low-frequency vocalizations emitted by solitary tuco-tuco species”.
Previous studies on the anatomy of the auditory apparatus had already suggested that this species could perceive ultrasound.
According to observations, male colonial tuco-tucos seem to be responsible for most of the vocalizations in group encounters.
However, since these rodents do not show external signs when vocalizing, it is difficult to precisely identify who emits each sound.
The hypothesis is that, in social species, the presence of high-frequency vocalizations could be linked to the fact that these signals would not be as affected by the limitations that the underground environment imposes on sound propagation.
“Knowing and disseminating aspects of the behavior of the colonial tuco-tuco contributes to its appreciation and awareness of the need to protect it,” adds Amaya.
This species is key to the balance of ecosystems, with services that include climate regulation and water quality.
How was the study that discovered the novelty
The discovery was published in the scientific journal Journal of Zoology and represents a significant advance in Argentine bioacoustics.
“This finding provides the first evidence of ultrasonic communication in tuco-tucos“, states Juan Pablo Amaya, first author of the study and CONICET researcher at the Center for Research and Technological Innovation (CENIIT-UNLaR).
He also added that “it opens new perspectives to understand the evolution of acoustic communication in underground animals“.
The experiments were conducted at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, where the only captive population of the colonial tuco-tuco in the world is located.
Researchers used specialized equipment to record ultrasound and synchronized filming cameras.
