The BBC reports that scientists have evidence that dolphins call each other by name. This name is a unique whistle. When one dolphin sounds a particular whistle, the dolphin whose whistle, or name, it is responds. Dolphins only respond to their own whistle and not that of other dolphins.
Marine biologists Dr. Stephanie King and Dr Vincent Janik, of the University of St Andrews, conducted sound playback experiments with bottlenose dolphins on the east coast of Scotland and found that each dolphin only reacted when hearing a computer version of its own unique whistle, but not to other whistles played to it. They concluded that these whistles function as names.
According to DR. Janik, "Our results present the first case of naming in mammals, providing a clear parallel between dolphin and human communication. In experimental work, parrots are also good at learning novel sounds and using them to label objects. Some parrots may also use these skills in their own communication. Thus, both dolphins and parrots present interesting avenues of research for understanding labelling or naming in the animal kingdom.”
Although this research is interesting, its not really surprising. What I'd like to know is how each dolphin is assigned a particular whistle. By its mother?
Reading about this study reminded me of one of my favorite movies - The Day of the Dolphin - a science fiction thriller from the 70s.
"A brilliant and driven scientist, Jake Terrell, and his young and beautiful wife, Maggie, train dolphins to communicate with humans. This is done by teaching the dolphins to speak English in dolphin-like voices. Two of his dolphins, Alpha ("Fa") and Beta ("Bea"), are stolen by officials of the shadowy Franklin Foundation headed by Harold DeMilo, the supportive backer of the Terrells' research. After the dolphins are kidnapped, an investigation by an undercover government agent for hire, Curtis Mahoney, reveals that the Institute is planning to further train the dolphins to carry out a political assassination by having them place a limpet mine on the hull of the yacht of the President of the United States." - Wikipedia
BBC Article
Research Abstract
University of St Andrews News
The Day of the Dolphin on YouTube
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The Washington Post reports that researchers have discovered that dolphins can recognize the whistle of "an old friend" that they have not seen in twenty years. This is said to be the longest social memory ever recorded for a non-human.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/dolphins-can-recognize-calls-from-old-tank-mates-from-over-20-years-ago/2013/08/06/1b1d5ab8-feb3-11e2-bd97-676ec24f1f3f_story.html
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