A new study provides evidence that bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use “signature whistles” to identify and call each other by “name”, just like humans. Researchers from the University of St Andrews in Scotland recorded a group of wild bottlenose dolphins, capturing each animal’s signature sound. They then played these calls back using underwater speakers.
“We played signature whistles of animals in the group, we also played other whistles in their repertoire and then signature whistles of different populations – animals they had never seen in their lives,” says Dr Vincent Janik. Individuals only responded to their own calls, by sounding their whistle back. The team believes the dolphins are acting like humans: when they hear their name, they answer. This skill helps the animals to stick together in a group in their vast underwater habitat.
Researchers believe this is the first time this has been seen in an animal, although other studies suggest that some parrot species may use sounds to label others in their group. Understanding how this skill evolved in different groups of animals could provide more clues as to how communication developed in humans.
Picture Credit : Google
