Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens

19 pages, 1924 KB

Open AccessArticle

Learning from Playbacks: Testing the Communicative Function of Snort and Pant Calls in the Southern White Rhinoceros

by Julia Jenikejew, Mascha Huelsewig, Damaris Riedner, Mathilde Stomp, Alban Lemasson, Martine Hausberger, Idu Azogu-Sepe, Martin Böye and Marina Scheumann

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2025, 6(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg6040051 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

In southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum), pant calls are well-studied contact vocalisations, whereas the function of frequently emitted snorts remains unclear. We conducted playback experiments with 15 rhinoceroses at three European zoos. The first experiment tested responses to conspecific versus heterospecific snorts, comparing pulsed and non-pulsed acoustic structures. The second experiment contrasted conspecific snorts with conspecific pants from males differing in age and faecal testosterone metabolite (fTM) levels. Behavioural responses—including body orientation, approach toward loudspeaker, locomotion, and vocalisations—were analysed. Snorts, regardless of sender species or pulsation, elicited uniformly low-intensity responses, suggesting limited communicative function. In contrast, pants evoked significantly stronger responses depending on sex and group setting. While males showed increased locomotion, females vocalised more, reflecting the species’ social dynamics. Individuals tested alone displayed overall heightened vigilance and vocal activity compared to those tested in pairs, emphasising the role of social context. No evidence was found for discrimination between pant calls differing in fTM levels. Our findings reinforce the communicative relevance of pants in conveying social cues while indicating that snorts may either lack species-specific acoustic markers or not be socially salient. Playback experiments thus appear as valuable tools for assessing acoustic communication in zoo-housed mammals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Selected Papers of the 4th International Meeting on Zoo Research, Conservation and Biodiversity)

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11 pages, 3156 KB

Open AccessArticle

Can the Morphological Variation of Amazonian Bufonidae (Amphibia, Anura) Be Predicted by Their Habits and Habitats?

by Andressa Sasha Quevedo Alves Oliveira, Rafaela Jemely Rodrigues Alexandre, Simone Almeida Pena, Letícia Lima Correia, Thais Santos Souza, Samantha Valente Dias, Thiago Bernardi Vieira and Felipe Bittioli R. Gomes

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2025, 6(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg6040050 - 29 Sep 2025

Abstract

The species of the Bufonidae family exhibit a great diversity of habitats, diurnal or nocturnal habits, a complex evolutionary history, and a wide distribution, which makes this group suitable for morphological studies. In this work, we aimed to identify the existence of morphological patterns related to the habitat use and diurnal or nocturnal habits of Bufonidae in the Brazilian Amazon. To achieve this, we studied the morphological measurements of 210 specimens from three zoological collections and characterized the type of habitat and diurnality/nocturnality of the species. The morphological patterns and habitat use were investigated through principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), respectively. The evaluation of the relationships between morphological variation, habitat use, and diurnality/nocturnality was performed via redundancy analysis (RDA). Accordingly, Amazonian bufonids were divided into three morphological groups associated with different vegetation types and environments, demonstrating that body size is closely linked to diurnal or nocturnal life habits and habitat. Species with large body sizes are associated to anthropized areas, while intermediate and smaller species are associated with primary forests. Full article

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11 pages, 469 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Validation of Operational Pain Indicators in Anurans

by Stefany González, Andrea Caiozzi, Osvaldo Cabeza and Hernan Cañon-Jones

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2025, 6(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg6040049 - 28 Sep 2025

Abstract

Amphibian welfare, particularly pain assessment in anurans, remains understudied despite their ecological and biomedical significance. This study aimed to identify and validate operational pain indicators for adult anurans under professional care. A four-phase approach was used: a systematic literature review, expert validation with risk analysis, field validation in a zoological facility, and development of a preliminary pain index. From 158 publications, 16 potential indicators were identified, encompassing behavioural, clinical, and physiological signs. Expert evaluation by 28 professionals from 12 institutions refined this to seven indicators, achieving over 60% consensus: feeding behaviour changes, abnormal behaviour, impaired locomotion, oedema, reduced movement, retained skin post-moulting, and altered respiration. Field validation in 53 anurans confirmed high observability and ease of measurement, with feeding behaviour changes and oedema scoring highest for practicality (93.5% and 93.0%, respectively). These validated indicators provide a science-based foundation for routine welfare monitoring, enabling timely interventions. Their integration into husbandry protocols can enhance ethical standards, improve conservation outcomes, and increase public confidence in amphibian care, paving the way for a standardised anuran pain index. Full article

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J. Zool. Bot. Gard., Volume 6, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 3 articles

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