Sound production in the eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos (Serpentes: Colubridae): Does it snore?

Lalor, Julia; Young, Bruce A.

doi:10.1163/156853898x00061

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…In other snake species airflow associated with defensive sound production is directed through the nasal passageway ( Kinney et al . 1998 ; Young and Lalor 1998); in these species the exact apposition of the larynx and internal nares will influence the acoustic properties of the hiss. Kardong (personal com.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The comparative morphology of the larynx in snakes

Young

2000

Acta Zoologica

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 Abstract Young, B.A. 2000. The comparative morphology of the larynx in snakes. -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 81 : 177-193The larynx and glottal tube were examined in 10 specimens each of 22 snake species. Qualitative analysis through dissection and clearing and staining revealed distinct morphological variation in the cartilage and intrinsic musculature of the larynx. Quantitative analysis of nine morphometric characters revealed laryngeal sexual dimorphism in three species, significant interspecific differences in the coefficients for every morphometric feature regressed on body size, no significant intraspecific differences in the log transformed means, and poor discrimination of species using principal component analysis. The observed variations in laryngeal morphology did not correlate with the phylogeny of the species, or with habitat preferences.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The comparative morphology of the larynx in snakes

Young

2000

Acta Zoologica

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Larynx morphology and sound production in three species of Testudinidae

Sacchi

Galeotti

Fasola

et al. 2004

Journal of Morphology

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Although the ability to vocalize is widespread among tortoises, the mechanisms of sound production in chelonians remain undescribed. In this study, we analyze the morphology and histology of the larynx of three species of Testudinidae (Testudo hermanni, T. graeca, and T. marginata) in order to ascertain the presence of vibrating acoustic structure, and based on our findings we propose a general model for phonation in tortoises. The structure of the larynx of the three tortoises analyzed is simple: three cartilages (the cricoid and two arytenoids) form the skeleton of the larynx, while two pairs of muscles (the dilators and constrictors) control the widening and closing of the glottis. The larynx is supported in the oral cavity by the hyoid cartilage, which in tortoises assumes the same functions of the thyroid cartilage of mammals. Two bands of elastic fibers are inserted in the lateral walls of the larynx just upstream of the glottis, and can be stretched away from the hyoid by the movements of the arytenoids. Their position and structure suggest that these bands are capable of vibrating during exhalation, and therefore may be considered vocal cords. The cricoid of T. marginata and T. graeca hold two diverticula, not previously reported, which might function as a low-frequency resonating chamber, improving the harmonic structure of tortoise calls. The structure of the larynx is compared with that of other vertebrates and the relationships between morphology and phonation are discussed. This is the first detailed description of anatomical structures possibly devoted to vocalization in chelonians.

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The mechanics of sound production in the puff adder Bitis arietans (Serpentes: viperidae) and the information content of the snake hiss

Young

Nejman

Meltzer

et al. 1999

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Puff adders (Bitis arietans), like many other snakes, hiss as part of their defensive repertoire. In B. arietans, the hisses have a clear quadraphasic pattern consisting of an initial exhalatory hiss, a brief transitional pause, an inhalatory hiss and a rest or breath-holding phase. Simultaneous recordings of body diameter, electrical activity in the intrinsic laryngeal musculature, airflow through the nasal passageway and sound production revealed that the anterior respiratory tract plays a passive role in hissing and that the costal pump is responsible for generating the quadraphasic pattern. During hissing, B. arietans uses the same mechanics previously described for normal respiratory ventilation in snakes. Analyses of artificial hisses reveal that the anterior respiratory tract of B. arietans has little ability to modify an exhalant airstream acoustically. The combination of the simple ventilatory mechanics used during hissing and the lack of acoustic modification of the exhalant airstream results in the production of an acoustically simple hiss. Cross-correlation matrix analyses of a variety of snake hisses showed a high degree of acoustic similarity between the sounds, almost approaching the levels determined for white noise. This high level of acoustic similarity reflects the low level of acoustic specialization within the sounds produced by snakes and the low potential for encoded information content.

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Sound production in the eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos (Serpentes: Colubridae): Does it snore?

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

The comparative morphology of the larynx in snakes

The comparative morphology of the larynx in snakes

Larynx morphology and sound production in three species of Testudinidae

The mechanics of sound production in the puff adder Bitis arietans (Serpentes: viperidae) and the information content of the snake hiss

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