v1i1.4

Submitted date: 09 September 2008
Accepted date: 15 September 2008
Published date: 06 April 2009
Pp. 19–23, pls. 5–6.

ON DISTRESS CALLS OF MALE Hemidactylus brookii parvimaculatus DERANIYAGALA, 1953 (REPTILIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SRI LANKA

Dieter Gramentz*
*E-mail: liteblu@gmx.de

Abstract
Two types of distress calls were recorded from three male Hemidactylus brookiii parvimaculatus. One type consisted of clicks and one of a single squeak. Twelve calls were analysed. Distress calls comprising a squeak had an average length of 0.070 sec while those comprising clicks averaged 0.329 sec. The difference in length of the two types of calls was significant (P<0.05). Average maximum sound intensity of all calls was 76.9 dB and was reached between 3045 Hz and 7473 Hz (x = 4451 Hz). Maximum frequency varied from 7194 Hz to 16238 Hz having an average of 13393 Hz and the average minimum frequency was 1230 Hz. All squeak distress calls showed harmonics, whereas no harmonics occurred in calls with clicks.

Key words : Bioacoustics, distress call, Hemidactylus brookii parvimaculatus, Sri Lanka