The song of the largest Malagasy lemur was extensively studied in the field between 1972 and 1984. The song’s structure is
described, and the role of song in the natural history of Indri
is examined by relating the naturally occurring variability of different song parameters to the behavior of habituated groups
and the composition of other groups in the population. The function of an Indri
group’s song is complex, varying according to the location and identity of animals hearing it. Territorial aspects of the
song are considered in detail and the nature of primate territorial vocalizations is critically discussed.
Key words
Indri indri
- loud calls - song - territorial behavior