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November 10, 2005

Mousy Maestros

Squeeeeeak, Squeeeeeak. Squeak, Squeak, Squeak, Squeak, Squeak. Squeeeeeak, Squeeeeeak...

What, you don't recognize the theme from Cats? Perhaps that's because you're not a mouse!

A new study shows that mice actually sing very complex little songs when they are trying to attract mates. While some animals like elephants use ultra-low frequencies for long distances, scientists have found that mice use very high ultrasonic squeaks in their own version of American Idol.

The stereotypically silent mouse may be one of nature's best singers, according to new research.

The male rodents sing ultrasonic songs that are inaudible to humans—but quite possibly sweet music to the opposite sex.

...

Holy and colleague Zhongsheng Guo recorded and manipulated the ultrasonic vocalizations to unveil a surprising complexity. The researchers also found that individual male mice sing their own distinct songs.

"The richness and diversity of mouse song appear to approach that of many songbirds," the authors write in the current edition of the open-access journal PLoS Biology.

...

"Whether it's an attribute or a deficiency, the mouse song differs [from birds']," he said. "It seems a bit more experimental and not as stereotyped."

National Geographic: Mice Serenade Mates With Complex Tunes

Posted by sorsha at November 10, 2005 12:16 PM