Reader’s question – Victor, Taguatinga, DF
There are several types. But they are all for specific cases: in general, giraffes are quite silent animals. For a long time it was even thought that they were mute, since the sound emitted by the species is low and even rarer in captivity, where hierarchical positions are more defined, with few disputes.
This whole silence has a biological explanation: a giraffe’s windpipe is narrower than that of other animals to reduce the amount of air trapped in the enormous neck – if there was too much, the animal’s breathing would be difficult. As the priority is to breathe and, consequently, to survive, the emission of sounds ends up in the background. Not by chance, giraffes often have silent means of communication. Males, for example, raise their heads to impose themselves on another, while females beat their tails on their flanks when they sense danger.
What: Whistle-like vocalization
When: Frightening situations, especially when escaping from predators
What: Moo like a calf
When: Peak sexual arousal
What: Low and high sounds
When: Emitted by puppies when frightened
What: Purr
When: Premonition of danger
What: Hoarse cough or grunts
When: Males fighting a rival
Source: Science World British Columbia
Consultancy: Guilherme Domenichelli, biologist at Dersa
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