Preliminary data on the defensive behavior and vocalization of the Lesser blind mole rat, Nannospalax leucodon (Nordmann, 1840)

The defensive behavior of two individuals of the Lesser blind mole rat, Nannospalax (superspecies) leucodon (Nordmann, 1840), was investigated. A characteristic defensive posture and two types of vocalization were recorded: teeth grinding and grunting, expressed by consecutive series of complex harsh calls, consisting of sequences of single very short (1.7 – 2.6 ms) phases (with maximum energy at about 9.8 KHz), accompanied by strong noise component. More research is needed to reveal the full vocal repertoire and behavioral characteristics of the species.