Prusten

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prusten is a sound made by the tiger and the snow leopard, also known as chuffing or chuffle (verb and noun).[1] It is a low-frequency equivalent to the purring found in domesticated cats. The animal's mouth is closed and it blows through the nostrils, producing a breathy snort.[2] This sound is non-threatening and often used when two big cats encounter each other on neutral territory, or between courting pairs.[3][4] Mothers use it to their cubs as a form of reassurance.[4] It has been known for tigers and snow leopards held in captivity to use this sound to keepers. Prusten is a German word. It means to sneeze or snort.

References

  1. ↑ "chuffle". dictionary.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  2. ↑ "Behavior". Snow Leopard Trust. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
  3. ↑ Peters, G.; Tonkin-Leyhausen, B. A. (1999). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 6 (2): 129. doi:10.1023/A:1020620121416. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Communication". SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 

External links

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