The Secret Language of Dolphins

Why Do Dolphins Live In Groups?

Dolphins are highly social animals that live in groups called pods for some key reasons.

• Protection from Predators – They can collectively defend themselves from predators like sharks.
• Cooperative Hunting – They collaborate to fence in their prey and capture schools of fish effectively.
• Social Learning – They learn from each other and mimic behaviors like hunting techniques and other survival skills.
• Bringing up Offspring – Baby dolphins called calves are raised within the safety and support of the pod. 
• Navigation and Exploration –  Dolphins are curious animals. Living in groups helps them navigate and explore new places together.

How Do Dolphins Communicate?

Dolphins are intelligent animals that use a variety of vocal sounds and body language for communication.

• Whistles –  Dolphins can produce a wide range of whistles. Each dolphin also has a unique “signature whistle,” like a human’s fingerprint. They use whistles to communicate identity, location, and emotions. 
• Clicks & Buzzes – Dolphins use various clicks and buzzes to communicate during hunting and social interactions and express distress or excitement.
• Body Language – They use physical actions like leaping, slapping the water with their tail, and synchronized swimming to communicate social messages.
• Contact Calls – They use contact calls to communicate with individuals within the group. These calls help in situations when group members get separated.
• Social Signals – Social signals, including postures, movements, and touches, help build social bonds. 
• Mother-Calf Communication – Calves make distinct vocal sounds to communicate with their mothers, and mothers use specific calls to respond and locate calves.
• Vocal Mimicry – Some species can mimic sounds made by other dolphins and even human-made noises, which help in social bonding.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about dolphins:

• Dolphins can create underwater “pop” rings by producing a burst of sound. These rings are used for playing and communication.
• Low-frequency sounds made by dolphins can travel across several miles in the ocean.
• While sleeping, only one part of a dolphin’s brain is at rest. The other part is alert for communication and breathing.
• Based on the brain-to-body size ratio, dolphins are the second most intelligent animals on Earth after humans.
• The largest dolphin species is the killer whale, which can reach lengths up to 30 feet. 

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about the secret language of dolphins:

• What uniquely identifies a dolphin? Signature Whistle
• How do dolphins communicate during hunting and social interactions? Clicks and Buzzes
• What are three social signals that dolphins use to communicate?  Postures, Movements, and Touches
• What type of calls do dolphins make to communicate with separated group members? Contact Calls
• What do dolphins use vocal mimicry for? Social Bonding