Reptiles' Hidden Vocal Repertoire: From Gecko Hoots to Gharial Pops
Recent research has uncovered that reptiles are much more vocal than we thought, using sounds for complex communication. In the Chambal River of India, scientists studied gharials and found that males create unique 'pop patterns' with a snout growth, which serve to express their identity and convey messages about territory and parenting. This work was led by conservation biologist Jeffrey Lang and project director Jailabdeen A as part of the Gharial Ecology Project. Meanwhile, evolutionary biologist Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen showed that South American river turtles make sounds to synchronize hatching. Other species, like the Chilean tree iguana and tokay geckos, also have intricate calls. These findings challenge the belief that reptiles are silent. Tragically, gharials are critically endangered, with a 98% population decline since the 1940s.
Key facts
- Male gharials produce unique 'pop patterns' by expelling water through a bulbous snout growth, broadcasting individual identity.
- Pop sounds vary by social context, including alerts, patrolling, and courtship.
- South American river turtles vocalize to synchronize hatching, while species with fewer eggs are quieter.
- Chilean tree iguanas modulate distress calls, with complex calls triggering stronger fear responses.
- Tokay geckos adjust calls in noisy environments by altering patterns, not volume, similar to the Lombard effect.
- Gharials are critically endangered, with population decline up to 98% since the 1940s.
- Research was published in the 2025 Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics.
- Scientists still don't know exactly how gharials generate pops; CT scanning is proposed.
Entities
Artists
- Sean Doody
- Henrik Brumm
- Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen
- Jeffrey Lang
- Jailabdeen A
Institutions
- University of South Florida
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
- National Institute of Amazonian Research
- Gharial Ecology Project
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
- Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
- Knowable Magazine
- Annual Reviews
Locations
- Chambal River
- India
- Nepal
- Germany