The Role of Dolphin Mothers in Child Directed Communication

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Researchers recorded the whistles of 19 dolphin mothers that were caught and released over several decades. The recordings revealed that dolphins produced whistles with higher pitches when caught alongside their calves, suggesting they were using a dolphin form of child directed communication. Given the similarities to high pitched baby talk, this way of whistling might also help dolphins to teach their young how to communicate.

In this episode:

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