Animal communication in Dolphins

Table of Contents

Introduction2

Discussion3

Animal communication3

Animal communication in dolphins3

Natural dolphin communication4

Vocal Communication4

Whistles4

Echolocation clicks5

Burst pulses7

Cries7

Non Vocal Acoustic Cues7

Studies on the dolphin communication8

A Language of Their Own9

Other studies to reveal dolphin communication9

Explanation of Dolphin Communication10

Conclusion11

References12

Animal Communication in Dolphins

Introduction

Cognitive scientists and linguistic experts define language as a set of learned symbols shared by a group and organized in correct grammar, and comprising of combinations of elements, which can make the transfer or communication of abstract meaning. Informally, it could be defined as a concrete mean of communication (Blomqvist, et al, 1998).

Discussion

Animal communication

Not only humans possess language, animals have their own distinctive communication system for the transmission of information. Scientists and researchers often define animal communication as the rendering of information (through signals) from a sender to a receiver, and then the utilization of this information by the receiver in choosing if and how to reciprocate or respond (Bradbury, et al, 1998). These signals may be of various forms, a huge and dangerous signal of moose altering the smaller moose's behavior, bees signals other bees to inform them about location of flower patches or signals in dolphins etc. The signals acquire varying channels or modes for communication such as auditory, visual, or chemical signals, etc.

Animal communication in dolphins

Scientists carried out studies to explore how remarkably the dolphin communicates During the 1960s. The fact that dolphin is not a fish but a mammal, and belong to the order Cetacea, and fascinatingly whales also belong to this order (Baughman, 1969). Dolphins produce and transmit signals in a variety of modes or channels such as non vocal auditory signals, vocal, tactile and visual signals. The different channels or modes include vocal signals, non-vocal auditory signals, visual signals and tactile signals. Some scientists believe that the chemicals from dolphins (in the form of feces) may covey the information about their sexual arousal status (Bradbury, et al, 1998).

Natural dolphin communication

Vocal Communication

The most common mode of communication in dolphins is by transmitting vocal signals. These vocal signals are typically of two major types, i.e. pulsed sounds and pure tones. Pure tones or frequently modulated sounds could be in the form of chirps, whistles or screams, and dolphins can alter the pitch with time (http://www.squidoo.com/).

Whistles

Dolphins develop to produce signature whistle as early as their first year of life. Dolphins are seen to imitate the signature whistles of their companions with precision, along with producing their own whistles. It is comprehended as calling each other by names. The lost dolphins make use of whistles to communicate by calling out to the group. Some species of dolphins do not produce whistles, and rely on pulse sounds to communicate with other dolphins (http://www.squidoo.com/).

Dolphins generate narrow band low frequency whistles, with over half whistles produced by dolphins are categorized as signature whistles. The range of signature whistles lies between 5 -20 khz with duration of one second. It is distinctive from other whistles of dolphins because of its distinguished frequency variation (unleashed by sonograms), and ...