Alarm Calling

Abstract

The term alarm calling is used to refer to an acoustically diverse group of animal vocaliza- tions, emitted in response to some threatening event, usually a predator. Alarm calling is wide- spread among social animals, although most data are from primates, rodents, and birds. This behaviour is puzzling from an evolutionary perspective. The term is used to refer to an acous- tically diverse group of animal vocalizations, emitted in response to some threatening event, usually a predator. Alarm calling is widespread among social animals, although most data are from primates, rodents, and birds. Why should an individual vocalize in the presence of a preda- tor and hereby reveal its location and attract atten- tion? How can such seemingly maladaptive behavior evolve?