The Sound of Dolphins
Dolphins use a special, well documented type of communication that involves the use of whistles and clicking sounds. Special Dolphin whistles are believed to be a way for dolphins to call on specific dolphins. Scientists have found that dolphins have "signature whistles" which are believed to be a way of recognizing names. Scientists report that dolphins learn their own signature whistle when they are young and use it to call other dolphins and to identify themselves. There is no actual dolphin language but studies have shown that dolphins are able to learn a language when some were taught sign language.
Their communicative abilities are only a part of the incredible intelligence, whose brains are larger than those of humans. Dolphins are one of the few animals that is "self-aware" in other words, is able to recognize itself in the mirror. Studies have shown that dolphins are able to solve logical problems and differenciate numbers and symbols.
Dolphins who live in small groups are able to tell dolphins that they know apart. They are able to communicate and defend one another in case a predator attacks. Some species even live as families. Males usually accompany their mother and the family lives together in specific areas. Dolphins also form friendships. Friends tend to stay together for very long times and are always of the same gender.
Dolphins are also known to know how to use simple tools. When at the very bottom of the ocean floor, dolphins wrap their nose in sponge to avoid hurting it while scouting for food. In many different ways, the dolphin lives up to the hype of being one of the most intelligent species. With its many abilities and logic as well as their capacity to learn when taught, the dolphin ranks among the top of the animal kingdom in brains.
