Alarm Calls

Alarm calls are a firm constituent of antipredator behavior in many species. They are interesting because they provide an evolutionary conundrum. Why behave conspicuously in the face of a predator? Research is reviewed showing that the main evolutionary forces, such as individual, kin, and sexual selection, have favored the evolution and maintenance of alarm call behavior in various ways. Second, alarm calls are interesting from a cognitive perspective because they provide an entryway into an animal's mind. Research with nonhuman primates has been particularly fruitful in showing how our closest relatives recruit cognitive abilities similar to those involved in speech processing.