Head Anatomy of Male and Female Mongolian Gazelle — A Striking Example of Sexual Dimorphism

Frey, Roland; Gebler, Alban; Olson, Kirk A.; Odonkhuu, Daria; Fritsch, Guido; Batsaikhan, Nyamsuren; Stuermer, Ingo W.

doi:10.1007/978-4-431-76933-0_1

Cited by 8 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar to Mongolian gazelles (Frey et al, ), the sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles were noticeably wider dorsoventrally in adult male goitred gazelles than in adult females (observed during the dissections by KE and RF but not measured). This sexual dimorphism of the main retractors of the larynx in adults corresponds with an increasing size difference of the larynx, with an increasing difference of larynx resting position and with an increasing difference in the degree of momentary larynx retraction towards adult male and female goitred gazelles.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…The outermost layer of the vocal pads is made up by stratified squamous epithelium (Efremova et al, ). Similar vocal pads, mainly composed of collagen and elastic fibers, were described for the large vocal folds of takins ( Budorcas taxicolor , Frey and Hofmann, ) and Mongolian gazelles (Frey and Gebler, ; Frey et al, ). Vocal pads with a higher amount of fat were described for saigas (Frey et al, ) and for some large felid species of the genus Panthera , the so‐called “roaring cats” (Peters and Hast, ; Klemuk et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…The origin of the initially fused sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles of goitred gazelles, as that of Mongolian gazelles (Frey et al, ) and red deer (Frey et al, ; Frey and Riede, ), does not extend into the thorax but is solely from the sternal manubrium. By contrast, in the ‘roaring felids’ (lions, tigers etc.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The postnatal ontogeny of the sexually dimorphic vocal apparatus in goitred gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

Efremova

Frey

Volodin

et al. 2016

Journal of Morphology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study quantitatively documents the progressive development of sexual dimorphism of the vocal organs along the ontogeny of the goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). The major, male-specific secondary sexual features, of vocal anatomy in goitred gazelle are an enlarged larynx and a marked laryngeal descent. These features appear to have evolved by sexual selection and may serve as a model for similar events in male humans. Sexual dimorphism of larynx size and larynx position in adult goitred gazelles is more pronounced than in humans, whereas the vocal anatomy of neonate goitred gazelles does not differ between sexes. This study examines the vocal anatomy of 19 (11 male, 8 female) goitred gazelle specimens across three age-classes, that is, neonates, subadults and mature adults. The postnatal ontogenetic development of the vocal organs up to their respective end states takes considerably longer in males than in females. Both sexes share the same features of vocal morphology but differences emerge in the course of ontogeny, ultimately resulting in the pronounced sexual dimorphism of the vocal apparatus in adults. The main differences comprise larynx size, vocal fold length, vocal tract length, and mobility of the larynx. The resilience of the thyrohyoid ligament and the pharynx, including the soft palate, and the length changes during contraction and relaxation of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles play a decisive role in the mobility of the larynx in both sexes but to substantially different degrees in adult females and males. Goitred gazelles are born with an undescended larynx and, therefore, larynx descent has to develop in the course of ontogeny. This might result from a trade-off between natural selection and sexual selection requiring a temporal separation of different laryngeal functions at birth and shortly after from those later in life. J. Morphol. 277:826-844, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The postnatal ontogeny of the sexually dimorphic vocal apparatus in goitred gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

Efremova

Frey

Volodin

et al. 2016

Journal of Morphology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pronounced momentary retractions of the larynx during the rutting calls of male polygynous ruminants probably evolved through the selection pressure for acoustically exaggerating own body size in contests where optical assessment of a rival was difficult under twilight or nocturnal conditions (Fitch & Reby, 2001; Fitch & Hauser, 2002; Reby & McComb, 2003a,b; McElligott et al. 2006; Frey et al. 2008a,b, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal anatomy, tongue protrusion behaviour and the acoustics of rutting roars in free‐ranging Iberian red deer stags (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)

Frey

Volodin

Volodina³

et al. 2012

Journal of Anatomy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Roaring in rutting Iberian red deer stags Cervus elaphus hispanicus is unusual compared to other subspecies of red deer, which radiated from the Iberian refugium after the last glacial maximum. In all red deer stags, the larynx occupies a permanent low mid-neck resting position and is momentarily retracted almost down to the rostral end of the sternum during the production of rutting calls. Simultaneous with the retraction of the larynx, male Iberian red deer pronouncedly protrude the tongue during most of their rutting roars. This poses a mechanical challenge for the vocal tract (vt) and for the hyoid apparatus, as tongue and larynx are strongly pulled in opposite directions. This study (i) examines the vocal anatomy and the acoustics of the rutting roars in free-ranging male C. e. hispanicus; (ii) establishes a potential mechanism of simultaneous tongue protrusion and larynx retraction by applying a two-dimensional model based on graphic reconstructions in single video frames of unrestrained animals; and (iii) advances a hypothesis of evaporative cooling by tongue protrusion in the males of a subspecies of red deer constrained to perform all of the exhausting rutting activities, including acoustic display, in a hot and arid season.

show abstract

“…This enlarged larynx is retracted to as much as 30% of its resting vocal tract length during the display of head up barking behavior used to round up females during rut (Frey et al, 2008a). During the rut, the male larynx is highlighted by the growth of elongated dark guard hairs along the ventral side of the lower neck (Frey et al, 2008a;Frey et al, 2008b). The deep guttural bellows produced are used to advertise condition to breeding females and competing males.…”

Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Literature Review of Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) Ecology from 1998 to Present

2010

Mong. J. Biol. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With respect to Mongolian gazelles a great deal of new knowledge has been gained over the past 10-12 years since the last species reviews were conducted. Advances in molecular techniques have helped to clarify the status of the genus Procapra and the relationship between the three extant species within and have highlighted the high genetic heterozygosity throughout the population. New morphological studies have focused on dimorphism between the sexes and the evolutionary development and role the enlarged larynx seen in males. Mongolian gazelles have long been the subject of intense debate with respect to their role as reservoirs for pathogens such as Foot and Mouth Disease virus, but with long term collection of serum from adults and calves it has been shown that gazelles are passive recipients of a virus harbored and spread by other means. Great strides have been made in the study of Mongolian gazelle forage ecology and their overlap in diet with domestic livestock as well as better understanding the physical adaptations needed for survival in a harsh environment with long periods of low quality forage availability by switching to browsing and grazing strategies. Using satellite tracking and remote sensing technology gazelle movement patterns are much better understood. Movements are more nomadic in nature and linked to tracking changes in quality habitat in time and space and less dictated by what was previously thought to be traditional migratory patterns. Mongolian gazelle have highly synchronized calving events which coincide with the start of the summer solstice and calf weights are correlated with the previous winter's harshness. Calves demonstrate behavior associated with 'hider' species for the fi rst few weeks of life before they begin to aggregate in large herds and move to different grazing grounds. Advances in survey methodologies have led to a better assessment of the population status of Mongolian gazelles and the most recent published studies estimated there to be 1.126 million gazelles living within Mongolia's border. Density varies widely and is negatively correlated with the presence of households. Future studies should focus on research that helps us better evaluate population dynamics, forage preference, behavioral interactions, and the role gazelles play in ecosystem function.

show abstract

Head Anatomy of Male and Female Mongolian Gazelle — A Striking Example of Sexual Dimorphism

Cited by 8 publications

References 11 publications

The postnatal ontogeny of the sexually dimorphic vocal apparatus in goitred gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

The postnatal ontogeny of the sexually dimorphic vocal apparatus in goitred gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

Vocal anatomy, tongue protrusion behaviour and the acoustics of rutting roars in free‐ranging Iberian red deer stags (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)

A Literature Review of Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) Ecology from 1998 to Present

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About