Editing Prairie dog (section)

===Anti-predator calls===
[[File:PDogBark.jpg|thumb|Prairie dog calling]]

The prairie dog is well adapted to [[predation|predators]]. Using its [[Dichromacy|dichromatic]] color vision, it can detect predators from a great distance; it then alerts other prairie dogs of the danger with a special, high-pitched call. [[Con Slobodchikoff|Constantine Slobodchikoff]] and others assert that prairie dogs use a sophisticated system of vocal communication to describe specific predators.<ref name="Slobodchikoff 2002">[https://stoppestinfo.com/images/PDF/SlobodchikoffCognition2002.pdf Slobodchikoff, C. N. (2002) "Cognition and Communication in Prairie Dogs"], In: ''The Cognitive Animal'' (pp. 257–264), M. Beckoff, C. Allen, and G. M. Burghardt (eds) Cambridge: A Bradford Book.</ref> According to them, prairie dog calls contain specific information as to what the predator is, how big it is and how fast it is approaching. These have been described as a form of grammar. According to Slobodchikoff, these calls, with their individuality in response to a specific predator, imply that prairie dogs have highly developed cognitive abilities.<ref name="Slobodchikoff 2002"/> He also writes that prairie dogs have calls for things that are not predators to them. This is cited as evidence that the animals have a very descriptive language and have calls for any potential threat.<ref name="Slobodchikoff 2002"/>

Alarm response behavior varies according to the type of predator announced. If the alarm indicates a hawk diving toward the colony, all the prairie dogs in its flight path dive into their holes, while those outside the flight path stand and watch. If the alarm is for a human, all members of the colony immediately rush inside the burrows. For coyotes, the prairie dogs move to the entrance of a burrow and stand outside the entrance, observing the coyote, while those prairie dogs that were inside the burrows come out to stand and watch, as well.<ref>[https://stoppestinfo.com/images/PDF/SlobodchikoffCognition2002.pdf "Cognition and Communication in Prairie Dogs"], C.N Slobodchikoff</ref> For domestic dogs, the response is to observe, standing in place where they were when the alarm was sounded, again with the underground prairie dogs emerging to watch.<ref name="Slobodchikoff 2002"/>

[[File:Prairie Dog Washington Zoo.JPG|thumb|Black-tailed prairie dog forages above ground for grasses and leaves.]]

Debate exists over whether the alarm calling of prairie dogs is selfish or altruistic. Prairie dogs may alert others to the presence of a predator so they can protect themselves, but the calls could be meant to cause confusion and panic in the groups and cause the others to be more conspicuous to the predator than the caller. Studies of black-tailed prairie dogs suggest that alarm-calling is a form of kin selection, as a prairie dog's call alerts both offspring and indirectly related kin, such as cousins, nephews, and nieces.<ref name="Hoogland 1995" /> Prairie dogs with kin close by called more often than those that did not have kin nearby. In addition, the caller may be trying to make itself more noticeable to the predator.<ref name="Hoogland 1995" /> Predators, though, seem to have difficulty determining which prairie dog is making the call due to its "[[Ventriloquism|ventriloquistic]]" nature.<ref name="Hoogland 1995" />

Perhaps the most striking of prairie dog communications is the territorial call or "jump-yip" display of the black-tailed prairie dog.<ref>{{cite book|author1=C. N. Slobodchikoff |author2=Bianca S. Perla |author3=Jennifer L. Verdolin |title=Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sX3PmE_MbDAC&pg=PA249 |year=2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-03181-4 |page=249}}</ref> A black-tailed prairie dog stretches the length of its body vertically and throws its forefeet into the air while making a call. A jump-yip from one prairie dog causes others nearby to do the same.<ref name="r3" />