Bottlenose dolphins can use learned vocal labels to address each other.

ABSTRACT: In animal communication research, vocal labeling refers to incidents in which an animal consistently uses a specific acoustic signal when presented with a specific object or class of objects. Labeling with learned signals is a foundation of human language but is notably rare in nonhuman communication systems. In natural animal systems, labeling often occurs with signals that are not influenced by learning, such as in alarm and food calling. There is a suggestion, however, that some species use learned signals to label conspecific individuals in their own communication system when mimicking individually distinctive calls. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are a promising animal for exploration in this area because they are capable of vocal production learning and can learn to use arb

SUBMITTER: King SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3740840 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature