Kurt Hammerschmidt
Biographic Data
| ID | 3072587 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kurt Hammerschmidt |
| GIVEN NAMES | Kurt |
| FAMILY NAME | Hammerschmidt |
| SIGNATURE | HAMMERSCHMIDT K |
| AFFILIATIONS | German Primate Center |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3430-2993 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 31 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1992 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Evidence of Vocal Gradation in the Vocal Repertoire of Wild Moor Macaques ( Macaca maura )
Nonhuman primates constitute an ideal model to study the evolutionary origins of human language, because of their close phylogenetic distance to humans and their reliance on complex communication systems that include different signal types. In this study, we investigated the vocal repertoire of Macaca maura (moor macaques), a highly tolerant primate species endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. We conducted detailed acoustic analyses on 1116 high‐quali…
The acoustic structure of spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ) calls is related both to caller goal and arousal
Analyzing the factors related to the acoustic structure of primate calls is fundamental to identifying the potential information these signals convey, and therefore, their potential function. It is well‐accepted that caller arousal is an important driver of acoustic variation in call structure. However, evidence suggests that arousal alone cannot explain the production of calls with different acoustic structures. The “caller goal” framework posit…
Emotion recognition and confidence ratings predicted by vocal stimulus type and prosodic parameters
Human speech expresses emotional meaning not only through semantics, but also through certain attributes of the voice, such as pitch or loudness. In investigations of vocal emotion recognition, there is considerable variability in the types of stimuli and procedures used to examine their influence on emotion recognition. In addition, accurate metacognition was argued to promote correct and confident interpretations in emotion recognition tasks. N…
Baboon vocal repertoires and the evolution of primate vocal diversity
Do sexual calls in female black capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus nigritus ) vary with fertility? An acoustic analysis
Females across a range of animal taxa produce vocalizations and signals uniquely associated with periods of mating. While such signals may ultimately function to increase female attractivity to males, conflicting findings challenge the extent to which these signals co-vary in accordance with the probability of conception. Female black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) display an elaborate repertoire of both vocal and visual components as part o…
Acoustic variation of spider monkeys’ contact calls (whinnies) is related to distance between vocalizing individuals and immediate caller behavior
Due to several factors such as ecological conditions, group size, and social organization, primates frequently spend time out of visual contact with individuals of their own group. Through the use of long-distance vocalizations, often termed "contact calls," primates are able to maintain contact with out-of-sight individuals. Contact calls have been shown to be individually distinct, and reverberation and attenuation provide information about cal…
Social interactions and activity patterns of old Barbary macaques: Further insights into the foundations of social selectivity
Human aging is accompanied by a decrease in social activity and a narrowing in social networks. Studies in nonhuman primates may provide valuable comparative insights in which way aging impacts social life, in the absence of cultural conventions and an awareness of a limited lifetime. For female Barbary macaques at "La Forêt des Singes" in Rocamadour, France, we previously reported an age-associated decrease in active grooming time and network si…
Charting the neglected West: The social system of Guinea baboons
OBJECTIVES: Primate social systems are remarkably diverse, and thus play a central role in understanding social evolution, including the biological origin of human societies. Although baboons have been prominently featured in this context, historically little was known about the westernmost member of the genus, the Guinea baboon (Papio papio). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here, we summarize the findings from the first years of observations at the field …
Are simakobu ( Simias concolor ) loud calls energetically costly signals
OBJECTIVES: Male vocal displays play an important role in sexual selection in many species. If there are costs or constraints, calls may convey honest information about the caller. We studied the loud calls of male simakobu (Simias concolor), a sexually dimorphic primate that resides in one-male groups, on Siberut Island, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We combined behavioral and ecological data with acoustic analysis to determine the influence…
Bioacoustic Field Research: A Primer to Acoustic Analyses and Playback Experiments With Primates
Acoustic analyses of primate vocalizations as well as playback experiments are staple methods in primatology. Acoustic analyses have been used to investigate the influence of factors such as individuality, context, sex, age, and size on variation in calls. More recent studies have expanded our knowledge on the effects of phylogenetic relatedness and the structure of primate vocal repertoires in general. Complementary playback experiments allow di…
Proximate Factors Underpinning Receiver Responses to Deceptive False Alarm Calls in Wild Tufted Capuchin Monkeys: Is It Counterdeception
Previous research demonstrates that tufted capuchin monkeys use terrestrial predator alarm calls in a functionally deceptive manner to distract conspecifics when feeding on contestable resources, although the success of this tactic is limited because listeners frequently ignore these calls when given in such situations. While this decreased response rate is suggestive of a counterstrategy to deception by receivers, the proximate factors underpinn…
Acoustic Niches of Siberut Primates
Age- and Sex-Related Variations in Clear Calls of Papio ursinus
Maternal discrimination of offspring vocalizations in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)
Dusk calling in barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ): Demand for social shelter
Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ) show an increase in vocal activity at dusk. This investigation showed that these vocalizations were mainly produced by juveniles from six to 18 months of age, during their attempts to achieve body contact with their mothers, thereby building up a sleeping cluster. The “dusk calling” consisted of protracted sequences of variable vocal patterns which always ceased when the juvenile joined its preferred sleeping …
Communal roosting and formation of sleeping clusters in barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus )
Sleeping cluster composition and distribution were studied in a semi‐free‐ranging population of 174 Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ) in Rocamadour/France. Over a period of 2 months 341 sleeping clusters comprising 754 animals were recorded as animals left the sleeping trees. To control for nocturnal activities five observation periods were conducted, each of which covered a complete night. Sleeping partners were selected from a particular set…
Charting the neglected West: The social system of Guinea baboons
OBJECTIVES: Primate social systems are remarkably diverse, and thus play a central role in understanding social evolution, including the biological origin of human societies. Although baboons have been prominently featured in this context, historically little was known about the westernmost member of the genus, the Guinea baboon (Papio papio). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here, we summarize the findings from the first years of observations at the field …
Baboon vocal repertoires and the evolution of primate vocal diversity
Acoustic Niches of Siberut Primates
Age- and Sex-Related Variations in Clear Calls of Papio ursinus
Are simakobu ( Simias concolor ) loud calls energetically costly signals
OBJECTIVES: Male vocal displays play an important role in sexual selection in many species. If there are costs or constraints, calls may convey honest information about the caller. We studied the loud calls of male simakobu (Simias concolor), a sexually dimorphic primate that resides in one-male groups, on Siberut Island, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We combined behavioral and ecological data with acoustic analysis to determine the influence…
Communal roosting and formation of sleeping clusters in barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus )
Sleeping cluster composition and distribution were studied in a semi‐free‐ranging population of 174 Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ) in Rocamadour/France. Over a period of 2 months 341 sleeping clusters comprising 754 animals were recorded as animals left the sleeping trees. To control for nocturnal activities five observation periods were conducted, each of which covered a complete night. Sleeping partners were selected from a particular set…
Dusk calling in barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ): Demand for social shelter
Barbary macaques ( Macaca sylvanus ) show an increase in vocal activity at dusk. This investigation showed that these vocalizations were mainly produced by juveniles from six to 18 months of age, during their attempts to achieve body contact with their mothers, thereby building up a sleeping cluster. The “dusk calling” consisted of protracted sequences of variable vocal patterns which always ceased when the juvenile joined its preferred sleeping …
Maternal discrimination of offspring vocalizations in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)
Age- and Sex-Related Variations in Clear Calls of Papio ursinus
Acoustic Niches of Siberut Primates
Bioacoustic Field Research: A Primer to Acoustic Analyses and Playback Experiments With Primates
Acoustic analyses of primate vocalizations as well as playback experiments are staple methods in primatology. Acoustic analyses have been used to investigate the influence of factors such as individuality, context, sex, age, and size on variation in calls. More recent studies have expanded our knowledge on the effects of phylogenetic relatedness and the structure of primate vocal repertoires in general. Complementary playback experiments allow di…
Proximate Factors Underpinning Receiver Responses to Deceptive False Alarm Calls in Wild Tufted Capuchin Monkeys: Is It Counterdeception
Previous research demonstrates that tufted capuchin monkeys use terrestrial predator alarm calls in a functionally deceptive manner to distract conspecifics when feeding on contestable resources, although the success of this tactic is limited because listeners frequently ignore these calls when given in such situations. While this decreased response rate is suggestive of a counterstrategy to deception by receivers, the proximate factors underpinn…
Are simakobu ( Simias concolor ) loud calls energetically costly signals
OBJECTIVES: Male vocal displays play an important role in sexual selection in many species. If there are costs or constraints, calls may convey honest information about the caller. We studied the loud calls of male simakobu (Simias concolor), a sexually dimorphic primate that resides in one-male groups, on Siberut Island, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We combined behavioral and ecological data with acoustic analysis to determine the influence…
Social interactions and activity patterns of old Barbary macaques: Further insights into the foundations of social selectivity
Human aging is accompanied by a decrease in social activity and a narrowing in social networks. Studies in nonhuman primates may provide valuable comparative insights in which way aging impacts social life, in the absence of cultural conventions and an awareness of a limited lifetime. For female Barbary macaques at "La Forêt des Singes" in Rocamadour, France, we previously reported an age-associated decrease in active grooming time and network si…
Charting the neglected West: The social system of Guinea baboons
OBJECTIVES: Primate social systems are remarkably diverse, and thus play a central role in understanding social evolution, including the biological origin of human societies. Although baboons have been prominently featured in this context, historically little was known about the westernmost member of the genus, the Guinea baboon (Papio papio). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here, we summarize the findings from the first years of observations at the field …
Do sexual calls in female black capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus nigritus ) vary with fertility? An acoustic analysis
Females across a range of animal taxa produce vocalizations and signals uniquely associated with periods of mating. While such signals may ultimately function to increase female attractivity to males, conflicting findings challenge the extent to which these signals co-vary in accordance with the probability of conception. Female black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) display an elaborate repertoire of both vocal and visual components as part o…
Acoustic variation of spider monkeys’ contact calls (whinnies) is related to distance between vocalizing individuals and immediate caller behavior
Due to several factors such as ecological conditions, group size, and social organization, primates frequently spend time out of visual contact with individuals of their own group. Through the use of long-distance vocalizations, often termed "contact calls," primates are able to maintain contact with out-of-sight individuals. Contact calls have been shown to be individually distinct, and reverberation and attenuation provide information about cal…
Baboon vocal repertoires and the evolution of primate vocal diversity
Emotion recognition and confidence ratings predicted by vocal stimulus type and prosodic parameters
Human speech expresses emotional meaning not only through semantics, but also through certain attributes of the voice, such as pitch or loudness. In investigations of vocal emotion recognition, there is considerable variability in the types of stimuli and procedures used to examine their influence on emotion recognition. In addition, accurate metacognition was argued to promote correct and confident interpretations in emotion recognition tasks. N…
The acoustic structure of spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ) calls is related both to caller goal and arousal
Analyzing the factors related to the acoustic structure of primate calls is fundamental to identifying the potential information these signals convey, and therefore, their potential function. It is well‐accepted that caller arousal is an important driver of acoustic variation in call structure. However, evidence suggests that arousal alone cannot explain the production of calls with different acoustic structures. The “caller goal” framework posit…
Evidence of Vocal Gradation in the Vocal Repertoire of Wild Moor Macaques ( Macaca maura )
Nonhuman primates constitute an ideal model to study the evolutionary origins of human language, because of their close phylogenetic distance to humans and their reliance on complex communication systems that include different signal types. In this study, we investigated the vocal repertoire of Macaca maura (moor macaques), a highly tolerant primate species endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. We conducted detailed acoustic analyses on 1116 high‐quali…
Primate Behavior and Ecology (15 works) · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior (13 works) · Biology (13 works) · Ecology (10 works) · Animal Behavior and Reproduction (8 works) · Primate (8 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Demography (6 works) · Zoology (6 works) · Communication (4 works)