Dolphins Can Communicate
May 24th 2006 02:43
Category: No Category
This from research funded by the Royal Society of London;
According to studies conducted in Sarasota Bay just off Florida, it has been found that dolphins are able to identify eachother and communicate with a form of name calling. The marine mammals use various whistles and clicking noises to recognize and call individuals. The studies were conducted on dolphins captured from the wild. They were harboured in nets and their whistles recorded. A computer regenerated their whistles and when played back it was observed that they responded. The studies were able to conclude that the dolphins were able to recognize a fellow signature whistle. The plausible extent of dolphin communication is intriguing. Dolphins, primates and humans all possess a heightened evolutionary level compared to other species. These three species are the only known species to be able to identify themselves with their reflection.
Dolphins are extremely and almost constantly vocal. They are capable of two kinds of sounds. A specialized mechanism in the nasal passages just below the blow-hole enables them to emit short, pulse-type sounds. These sounds, called clicks, can be produced in such rapid succession as to sound like a buzz or even a duck like quack. The clicks are used as a form of sonar, in which echoes of sounds from surrounding objects enable the animals to detect obstacles, other dolphins, fish, and even tiny bits of matter in the water. This ability is termed echolocation. It has also been speculated that dolphins also use the clicking sounds to deliver an acoustic shock for stunning of killing small prey.
Deeper in the respiratory system (presumably in the larynx) dolphins produce another type of sound: a high pitched whistle of squeal, which is capable of rapid pitch changes. The whistles differ from the clicks in being essentially single tones. Apparently the dolphin used the whistles to communicate a particular emotional state and thus influence the behavior of other dolphins. Typically, the squeals denote alarm or sexual excitement.
In the 1960s and 70s and American neurologist published experiments where he tried to communicate with dolphins in their own language. The experiments were discredited and written off as lacking scientific validity. However, captive dolphins have demonstrated the ability to approximate the sounds of a few human words and it is suggested that dolphins may be capable of learning a true language to communicate to humans with.
In the 1960s and 70s and American neurologist published experiments where he tried to communicate with dolphins in their own language. The experiments were discredited and written off as lacking scientific validity. However, captive dolphins have demonstrated the ability to approximate the sounds of a few human words and it is suggested that dolphins may be capable of learning a true language to communicate to humans with.
| 50 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
