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Why can low-frequency sounds indicate that an animal is large?

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Animals communicate by sending and receiving signals. For example, a mother dingo (Canis lupus dingo) can communicate certain types of information to her pups by using tactile signals conveyed through grooming. — Animal communication Animals communicate by sending and receiving signals. For example, a mother dingo (*Canis lupus dingo*) can communicate certain types of information to her pups by using tactile signals conveyed through grooming.

In the context of animal communication, low-frequency sounds serve as a reliable indicator of an animal's size because of the physical constraints on sound production. Specifically, only large animals possess the physiological structures necessary to generate these low-frequency signals.1

Because this association between sound frequency and body size is consistent, receivers can use these vocalizations as a "code" to assess the size of an opponent or competitor. For example, if an animal has a history of losing conflicts to larger individuals, it may interpret a low-frequency signal as evidence that the sender is large, prompting the receiver to flee to avoid potential harm. This reliance on frequency allows animals to make informed decisions about whether to fight or retreat based on the perceived physical stature of the sender.1