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(Image source: Vincent M. Janik / University of St. Andrews)
BY NICHOLE CARTMELL
Hi, I'm Lauren. As humans we each have our
own name. And just like you call me Lauren, dolphins also call each other by "name".
Scientists have found new evidence, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences, that these marine animals use name-like whistles to identify and communicate
with each other. (Via Voices In The Sea)
Past studies have revealed that dolphins used signature whistles as a way to invite other
dolphins to play. But what's new here is that when a dolphin hears its signature whistle
it responds like we do when someone calls our name.
Researchers came to the conclusion by using the identity whistles of dolphins living near
the east coast of Scotland. They played the whistles using underwater speakers. (Via BBC)
And amazingly the dolphins called back and in some cases even swam toward the speakers
that were playing the sound. (Via ABC)
Here's a sample of the interaction: (Via The Wall Street Journal)
NPR described the findings saying, "It was behavior you might expect if two friends were
trying to find each other in a crowd."
Dolphins are believed to be incredibly intelligent animals. MRI scans show dolphin brains are...
• big, relative to their body size • intricate, with a neocortex "more highly
convoluted than our own" and • structured to allow for self-awareness
and the processing of what scientists call "complex emotions"
(Via Discovery News)
Researchers believe that the signature whistles the dolphins use is a tool that was developed
to help the animals stick together in a group.