Form and function of acoustic communication in the Felidae - a systematic review and conservation outlook

Felids are top predators with a significant impact on ecosystems worldwide. Yet many species are endangered, and their behaviour remains poorly studied. Felids rely on acoustic signals to convey a wide range of information over long distances and sometimes dense habitats. These signals reflect key behavioural contexts, such as mating, cub-rearing, and territorial defence – aspects relevant for conservation and habitat management. Our systematic literature review provides an overview of current knowledge on the structure and function of acoustic signals in undomesticated felids, evaluates their potential for acoustic monitoring and outlines future applications of acoustic methods in conservation, research and management. In January 2025, we searched Scopus and Web of Science for English and German publications on acoustic signals in all 40 undomesticated felid species, excluding only the domestic cat (Felis catus), identifying 51 relevant publications. Most studies focused on large-sized felids such as lions and cheetahs. For 32 of the 40 felid species researched, no species-specific studies were found. Felids share a basic acoustic repertoire, but exhibit species-specific variations that suggest adaptive functions. Most call types studied in detail encode information such as caller’s age, sex, or identity, suggesting high potential for acoustic monitoring and implications in conservation.