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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Velar vocal folds are present in female and immature male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Matthew R. McCurry A B , Michelle R. Quayle A , Justin Cally A and Justin W. Adams A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.

B Geoscience, Museum Victoria, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: justin.adams@monash.edu

Australian Mammalogy 38(2) 232-233 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM15038
Submitted: 25 September 2015  Accepted: 9 November 2015   Published: 11 December 2015

Abstract

It was recently shown that adult male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) possess a novel vocal organ, the velar vocal folds, that underlie their mating bellows. Here we demonstrate through dissection of the infrahyoid region that this novel structure is also present in female and immature male koalas.


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