Wild dolphins use specific melodies called signature whistles to introduce themselves when they come across new groups of dolphins, researchers have discovered. They say the tuneful exchanges are an important part of a greeting sequence that allows dolphins to recognise each other in the wild. ‘These signature whistles are special, because they contain the dolphin’s identity in the modulation pattern, or tune if you like, which the dolphin invents,’ explains Dr Vincent Janik from the University of St Andrews, who led the study.

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Dolphins and Signature Whistles

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