Vocal Distinctiveness in the Harsh Coughs of Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Individual differences in vocal signals are documented in numerous mammals, yet little is known about marsupial vocalisations. In this study acoustic analysis based on source-filter theory was used to document the structure of Southern hairy-nosed wombat harsh coughs, and then to examine the potential for these calls to encode individual identity. The results show that harsh coughs are highly individualised and indicate that the formant structure of these calls provides potentially important information about the identity of callers. The ecological relevance of individual distinctiveness in this endangered species is discussed.