Sains Malaysiana 53(4)(2024): 733-746

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5304-01

Acoustic Stridulating Responses of Various Tarantula Species in Peninsular Malaysia

(Tindak Balas Stridulasi Akustik Pelbagai Spesies Tarantula di Semenanjung Malaysia)

IRHAM RAZAK¹, DZULHELMI MUHAMMAD NASIR² & AMIRRUDIN AHMAD^1,*

¹Biology and Ecology Research (BERes), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 5 September 2023/Diterima: 14 Mac 2024

Abstract

Stridulation by stridulatory organs has been linked to tarantulas’ (Araneae: Theraphosidae) defence or sexual communication, and the morphology of such organ has been extensively used in tarantula systematics. This study was conducted to characterise and compare differences in the acoustic pattern of stridulating sound among seven tarantula species for juveniles and adults of both sexes in Peninsular Malaysia. The species were Psednocnemis jeremyhuffi, P. brachyramosa, Selenocosmia sp. ‘Johor’, Omothymus violaceopes, Cyriopagopus robustus, Chilobrachys sp. ‘Kedah’, and Coremiocnemis sp. ‘Kelantan’. Five provocation methods were used to record the sound which was by tapping the substrate/enclosure, blowing air, waving a pen, poking with blunt object and shaking the enclosure. The stridulating behaviour was assessed using a set of parameters. The result showed that the stridulating behaviour differed between species. Dwarf species like P. jeremyhuffi and P. brachyramosa did not make any audible stridulating sound and preferred to remain motionless. Meanwhile, for the other five species only the large adult females stridulated. Adult males of all species did not make any audible sounds, but rather appeared to be more aggressive and frequently bite. Kruskal-Wallis test showed that intensity, pitch frequency, call duration and pulse duration were significantly different between species. Principal component analaysis (PCA) showed the dissimilarity between the adult females from the five species with Omothymus violaceopes and Chilobrachys sp. ‘Kedah’ the most distinct in terms of call patterns. This study provides evidence on the acoustics pattern of stridulating sound for the tarantulas in Peninsular Malaysia.

Keywords: Animal behaviour; bioacoustics; sound intensity; stridulation; Theraphosidae

Abstrak

Bunyi desingan telah dikaitkan dengan pertahanan atau komunikasi seksual tarantula (Araneae: Theraphosidae), dan morfologi organ tersebut telah digunakan secara meluas dalam sistematik tarantula. Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti ciri dan membandingkan perbezaan corak akustik bunyi desingan antara tujuh spesies tarantula bagi juvenil dan dewasa yang terdiri daripada kedua-dua jantina di Semenanjung Malaysia. Spesies tersebut ialah Psednocnemis jeremyhuffi, P. brachyramosa, Selenocosmia sp. ‘Johor’, Omothymus violaceopes, Cyriopagopus robustus, Chilobrachys sp. ‘Kedah’ dan Coremiocnemis sp. ‘Kelantan’. Enam kaedah provokasi telah digunakan untuk merekod bunyi tersebut iaitu dengan mengetuk tanah/sangkar, menghembus udara, menggerakkan pen, mengusik dengan objek tumpul dan menggoncang sangkar. Perilaku berdesing dinilai menggunakan satu set parameter. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa perilaku berdesing berbeza antara spesies. Spesies kerdil seperti P. jeremyhuffi dan P. brachyramosa tidak mengeluarkan sebarang bunyi desingan yang boleh didengari dan lebih memilih untuk tidak bergerak. Sementara itu, untuk lima spesies yang lain hanya betina dewasa sahaja yang dapat berdesing. Jantan dewasa daripada semua spesies tidak mengeluarkan sebarang bunyi yang boleh didengar, sebaliknya kelihatan lebih agresif dan kerap menggigit. Analisis Kruskal-Wallis menunjukkan frekuensi, kekuatan bunyi, tempoh bunyi dan tempoh denyut berbeza secara jelas antara spesies. Analisis komponen prinsipal (PCA) menunjukkan perbezaan antara betina dewasa daripada lima spesies dan mendapati Omothymus violaceopes dan Chilobrachys sp. ‘Kedah’ mempunyai jarak yang ketara dari segi pola bunyi. Kajian ini memberikan bukti tentang corak akustik bunyi desingan untuk tarantula di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Bioakustik; desingan; kekuatan bunyi; sikap haiwan; Theraphosidae

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: amirrudin@umt.edu.my