Dolphins Have Incredible Memory
- 11 years ago
Researchers from the University of Chicago have found that dolphins have the longest social memory of any other species besides humans.
Researchers from the University of Chicago have found that dolphins have the longest social memory of any other species besides humans.
Dolphins reportedly have memories of social connections, and researchers say that they can remember a familiar dolphin’s call even after not seeing them for over 20 years.
The researchers studied the records of 56 captive bottlenose dolphins that had been moved around to six different aquariums and zoos in the United States and Bermuda, to see which of the animals had lived together and when.
The dolphins in the study listened to recordings of familiar and unfamiliar dolphin calls.
Recordings of unique dolphin calls from their former companions were responded to with what researchers are calling recollection.
In nature, dolphins are known to leave one group and join another several times, so the ability to recognize a familiar signature call can be socially useful.
Janet Mann, a marine mammal biologist at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C said: “Even though dolphins may change in size and physical characteristics, getting scars and speckles, their whistles provide a reliable means of identification.”
Researchers from the University of Chicago have found that dolphins have the longest social memory of any other species besides humans.
Dolphins reportedly have memories of social connections, and researchers say that they can remember a familiar dolphin’s call even after not seeing them for over 20 years.
The researchers studied the records of 56 captive bottlenose dolphins that had been moved around to six different aquariums and zoos in the United States and Bermuda, to see which of the animals had lived together and when.
The dolphins in the study listened to recordings of familiar and unfamiliar dolphin calls.
Recordings of unique dolphin calls from their former companions were responded to with what researchers are calling recollection.
In nature, dolphins are known to leave one group and join another several times, so the ability to recognize a familiar signature call can be socially useful.
Janet Mann, a marine mammal biologist at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C said: “Even though dolphins may change in size and physical characteristics, getting scars and speckles, their whistles provide a reliable means of identification.”