Nasal-Trumpet

A nasal sounding trumpet of less than a second in duration that is noisier and significantly lower in frequency than all other trumpets. Nasal-Trumpets are most often associated with very exuberant play and sound like a large man blowing his nose. They may also be given by highly aroused individuals during social bonding events, such as Greetings. It seems that Nasal-Trumpeting participants may force air more slowly through the upper part of the nasal passages causing it to reverberate down the length of the trunk at a lower frequency. Calves, juveniles, adolescents and adults are all capable of producing these trumpets.

References: Poole & Granli 2004; Poole 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Movement, Space & Leadership, Social Play

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (1)

Big Mama, calves and a young male are Mud-Wallowing and beginning to give signals that they are preparing to depart. The young male gives a Nasal-Trumpet as he Head-Shakes and hauls himself up the small bank. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)