Bioacoustics of Herpestes

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Solitary, although occasionally seen in pairs and larger groups (up to five in Spain, including pups). Larger groups thought to be polygynous, made up of one male and several females (up to three in Israel ), with their pups. In Israel , individuals with access to a garbage dump formed territorial social groups, with four groups found occupying a total range of 3 km ®. In South Africa , home ranges varied from 0-30 to 0-45 km?®. In Spain, mean home range was 3-1 km? and density reached 2 individuals/km* (density negatively correlated with the presence of Iberian Lynx). The home range of a radio-collared male was elongated in shape, following the border of a marsh. Female home ranges overlapped substantially, but core areas were almost exclusive. Male home ranges showed minimal overlap, but tended to overlap numerous females’ home ranges ( one male overlapped four female ranges, another five females ). Home range size was correlated with body mass, negatively in females and positively in males. In Spain, male daily home range size averaged 2-3 times that of females, but there was no difference in male and female multi-day home range size. An adult male travelled from 0-6 to 6-4 km per day. Latrines are used by all family members, and tend to be found near resting sites in preferred habitats. Individuals anal-mark stones along trails by squatting or anal dragging. The anal gland secretion is composed of complex long-chain carboxylic acids. Sex-specific components differentiate male and female secretions. Seven distinct vocalizations have been described: a deep, sharp growling alarm call that elicits fleeing in other individuals; a short, repeated contact call given by individuals during foraging; a growl associated with defence of food, territory or mate; a bark or spit given during mating or fighting; and a short, sharp, vigorous pain call. The pain call is the only vocalization made by solitary individuals. Underground dens (dug by European Rabbits or European Badgers), thickets and tree hollows, are used as nocturnal and day rest sites in Spain.