Pranav Minasandra
@pminasandra.bsky.social
Nature and structure of animal behaviour | Postdoc and PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social | MSc and BS @iiscbangalore | English | ಕನ್ನಡ | हिन्दी | اردو | Dalit lives matter.
pminasandra.github.io
pminasandra.github.io
Pinned
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🧪Before the day begins, meerkats share a unique ritual. After emerging from their burrows, they spend up to an hour "sunning" to warm up for the day. During this quiet time, they produce soft, tonal "sunning calls". Just standing, sunbathing, and calling. But why❓ #bioacoustics #meerkats #kalahari
February 1, 2026 at 11:54 AM
🧪Before the day begins, meerkats share a unique ritual. After emerging from their burrows, they spend up to an hour "sunning" to warm up for the day. During this quiet time, they produce soft, tonal "sunning calls". Just standing, sunbathing, and calling. But why❓ #bioacoustics #meerkats #kalahari
Sometimes, when I really like (or really dislike) something I read, I write a small review about it on my website. Sharing a more recent one:
pminasandra.github.io/reviews/2026...
pminasandra.github.io/reviews/2026...
'The Idea of the Brain' by Matthew Cobb
What are minds? How well do we understand them?
This book is the history of how people have thought about minds, brains,
cognition, and the like.
Covering the past, present, and predicted future of wh...
pminasandra.github.io
January 26, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Sometimes, when I really like (or really dislike) something I read, I write a small review about it on my website. Sharing a more recent one:
pminasandra.github.io/reviews/2026...
pminasandra.github.io/reviews/2026...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
After a trip to the ER for an extremely avoidable silly accident, I started wondering about the neuroscience behind being clumsy.
Sounds interesting? Have a look at my post on Substack!
Sounds interesting? Have a look at my post on Substack!
The science behind clumsiness
How a snowy trip to the ER made me wonder about brains and being clumsy.
open.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:12 PM
After a trip to the ER for an extremely avoidable silly accident, I started wondering about the neuroscience behind being clumsy.
Sounds interesting? Have a look at my post on Substack!
Sounds interesting? Have a look at my post on Substack!
How are sound elements combined to make calls in this Pūkeko population in NZ? How do calls change based on where they're made in the call sequence? Read our paper to find out!
January 9, 2026 at 10:14 AM
How are sound elements combined to make calls in this Pūkeko population in NZ? How do calls change based on where they're made in the call sequence? Read our paper to find out!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Our group is looking for two MSc students to conduct a one-year research project on meerkat navigation and vocal activity at the University of Zurich and the Kalahari Research Center. Please share around!
November 17, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Our group is looking for two MSc students to conduct a one-year research project on meerkat navigation and vocal activity at the University of Zurich and the Kalahari Research Center. Please share around!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
New paper!
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
New paper!
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We propose a framework to empirically study animal social relationships by modelling social network (SN) data as time-series—that is, without the need to aggregate them over time.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Periodic reminder to check out my new webcomic, Remarkable Doodles!
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
November 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Periodic reminder to check out my new webcomic, Remarkable Doodles!
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Title: If Isaac Newton has seen further
Permalink: pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
I have some brilliant news to share! I recently received a DFG-funded Emmy Noether 6-year grant to establish my own group in Germany. I will soon be looking for a PhD student and a research assistant to join the team and investigate how the balance of power is maintained in animal societies.
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I have some brilliant news to share! I recently received a DFG-funded Emmy Noether 6-year grant to establish my own group in Germany. I will soon be looking for a PhD student and a research assistant to join the team and investigate how the balance of power is maintained in animal societies.
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🚨STOP SCROLLING, IT’S AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST📣 This message will self-destruct in 10…9…8…7…⏰ …now that I have your attention:
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
November 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
🚨STOP SCROLLING, IT’S AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST📣 This message will self-destruct in 10…9…8…7…⏰ …now that I have your attention:
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
🧪Our new paper on Alerting Components in animal vocalization is out in AnimBehav🎉
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#AnimalBehaviour #Bioacoustics #Communication
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Ever since I made a video about Fourier Transforms, one of the most requested topics on the channel has been its close cousin, the Laplace Transform.
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
But what is a Laplace Transform?
YouTube video by 3Blue1Brown
youtu.be
October 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ever since I made a video about Fourier Transforms, one of the most requested topics on the channel has been its close cousin, the Laplace Transform.
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I've been having a lot of fun animating a mini-series about this topic, and the main part is now out.
youtu.be/j0wJBEZdwLs
I have a new webcomic! pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
October 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I have a new webcomic! pminasandra.github.io/remarkable/?...
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Although I use Bluesky mainly for science, I think some of you might enjoy some of these more nerdy comics. Some examples uploaded below. Check out the link for more!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🦅PhD position 🦅 in my new group at @fbm-unil.bsky.social in Switzerland, studying how the social and resource landscapes shape the learning process for soaring flight. Deadline: Oct 30. Pls repost! career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...
October 6, 2025 at 5:56 AM
🦅PhD position 🦅 in my new group at @fbm-unil.bsky.social in Switzerland, studying how the social and resource landscapes shape the learning process for soaring flight. Deadline: Oct 30. Pls repost! career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
I’m sorry. My Bluesky profile is meant to be mostly about science. But I have to speak up: my country is not okay. We are being ignored, both internationally and by our own authorities. The violence is real, and the world must see this. #Madagascar #GenZ
October 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I’m sorry. My Bluesky profile is meant to be mostly about science. But I have to speak up: my country is not okay. We are being ignored, both internationally and by our own authorities. The violence is real, and the world must see this. #Madagascar #GenZ
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Analysis of communication and collective behavior in animal groups
imprs-qbee.mpg.de
October 3, 2025 at 7:40 AM
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
🧠 What does collective movement look like in cognitively advanced animals?
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
August 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
🧠 What does collective movement look like in cognitively advanced animals?
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
I have a new pre-print out for a super short solo-author paper I just submitted! I explore how the ability to forecast others' behaviours affects your own decision-making. Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.14.670290
This article neatly summarises my Google Scholar fears. If there was a workable scientific-society-run or community-driven alternative, I would switch SO FAST
Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared
Google Scholar Is Doomed
Academia built entire careers on a free Google service with zero guarantees. What could go wrong?
hannahshelley.neocities.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
This article neatly summarises my Google Scholar fears. If there was a workable scientific-society-run or community-driven alternative, I would switch SO FAST
Unser Studie zu Verhaltenssequenzen wurde auf YT Channel MitWissen vorgestellt: youtu.be/5fT-lwwfmZE
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
Welche Gemeinsamkeit haben Hyänen, Erdmännchen und Nasenbären?
YouTube video by MitWissen
youtu.be
July 30, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Unser Studie zu Verhaltenssequenzen wurde auf YT Channel MitWissen vorgestellt: youtu.be/5fT-lwwfmZE
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
MitWissen (auf Deutsch) wird von meiner Kollegin @cinig.bsky.social betrieben.
Schaut euch das Video an und abonniert gerne ihren Channel!
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Another good reason to read this paper by @pminasandra.bsky.social👇
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
July 21, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Another good reason to read this paper by @pminasandra.bsky.social👇
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It just won the "Best Paper Award" from @uni-konstanz.de Bio Dept 👏 Congrats to Pranav + team @livingingroups.bsky.social @meg-crofoot.bsky.social @arispeshkin.bsky.social @animal-sounds.bsky.social
▶️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Hey friends in bioacoustics & acoustic communication:
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
VocalPy 0.10.0 released! – VocalPy blog
What’s new in VocalPy version 0.10.0
blog.vocalpy.org
July 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Hey friends in bioacoustics & acoustic communication:
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
I am (finally) sharing this post on the new version of @vocalpy.bsky.social I released after teaching a bootcamp with @tessarhinehart.bsky.social at the @nmac2024.bsky.social last year
blog.vocalpy.org/posts/2025-0...
#prattle 💬
#bioacoustics
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
The study of social animal migrations: a synthesis of the past and guidelines for future research | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Seasonal migration is a common behaviour seen in many species worldwide. There is
evidence that social factors influence various migration decisions, but compared to
the well-studied field of social f...
doi.org
June 18, 2025 at 5:23 AM
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Excited to share our new review in @royalsocietypublishing.org Proceedings B! 🎉
We synthesize research on social factors influencing animal migration and offer guidelines for future research. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
#OpenAccess #Migration #MovementEcology
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
May 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Hot off the press 📣: one of the most surprising and unsettling findings of my PhD. A novel social tradition emerged in the tool-using white-faced capuchins of Jicarón island… abducting and carrying the infants of another species. Thread with gifs, videos, and all the bizarre details 👇
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
May 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hot off the press 📣: one of the most surprising and unsettling findings of my PhD. A novel social tradition emerged in the tool-using white-faced capuchins of Jicarón island… abducting and carrying the infants of another species. Thread with gifs, videos, and all the bizarre details 👇
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
Cross-species teamwork from @livingingroups.bsky.social reveals unexpected similarities in three social mammals 🤔
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
Very different mammals follow the same rules of behavior
Research hints at an underlying architecture that orders the movements of animals
www.ab.mpg.de
May 19, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Cross-species teamwork from @livingingroups.bsky.social reveals unexpected similarities in three social mammals 🤔
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
By lead author @pminasandra.bsky.social with Emily Grout, Katrina Brock, Meg Crofoot, Vlad Demartsev, Amlan Nayak, Eli
Strauss, Ari Strandburg-Peshkin🧵1/2
www.ab.mpg.de/679000/news_...
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
May 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🚨 Out this week in @pnas.org 🚨
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
The flagship paper from my PhD @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @livingingroups.bsky.social - We show surprising statistical similarities in animal behaviour across states, individuals, and even species.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
(🧵 1/10)
Reposted by Pranav Minasandra
🐋 Moms float different 🐋
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
Behavioral data suggest adaptive buoyancy control during shallow dives in humpback whales
Highlighted Article: Behavioral data from multi-sensor tags on humpback whale mothers and calves suggest that adults actively adjust their buoyancy during shallow dives. One potential mechanism underl...
journals.biologists.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🐋 Moms float different 🐋
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...
In our new @jexpbiol.bsky.social paper, we explore buoyancy control in humpback whales. Mothers seem to actively manage it; calves don't.
#MarMam
journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...