Drumming as Communication in Mammals

by Jan A. Randall

"An amazing variety of mammals produce seismic vibrations by drumming

a part of their body on a substrate. The drumming can communicate multiple

messages to conspecifics about territorial ownership, competitive superiority, submission, readiness to mate, or presence of predators. Drumming also functions in interspecific communication when prey animals drum to communicate to predators that they are too alert for a successful ambush. Footdrumming patterns are species specific and range from single thumps to individual footdrum signatures." Read the entire Oxford Journals Article