Vocal sounds of 15 individuals of Crocidura leucodon (Hermann, 1780) emitted during agonistic and amicable interactions in male-male, female-female and male- -femalejdyadic encounters, and intráspecific cage groups, were studied. An analysis of spectral properties, along with an examination of context and function, were performed. The sounds registered during agonistic interactions showed an increase, then a decrease in frequency, often followed a complex undulating curve. The dominant frequency (DF) was 10.7 ± 0.05 kHz, and duration (DU) was 104.2 ± 4.4 ms. The calls emitted by shrews at investigation and grooming often ended with chirping notes (DF = 4.8 ± 0.2 kHz, DU = 23.5 ± 1.1 ms). While clustering and huddling up to the partner, the animals produced calls consisting of short notes with a very low intensity (DF = 1.0 ± 0.07 kHz, DU = 35.2 ± 0.8 ms). Based on these finding, it can be assumed that threatening sounds, emitted in agonistic encounters, allow shrews to avoid conflicts, while those, emitted when clustering and huddling up to the partner, contribute to maintenance of group cohesiveness. The variability of frequency ranges and intensity of sounds probably reflects the territorial and gregarious behaviour of C. leucodon and adaptation to communication in variable acoustic environments.
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