Study: These animals call each other "by name" (video)

The only animals in the world communicate with each other “by name” – unique sound signals are used for each individual.

Scientists' research results published in the scientific journal Nature Ecology&Evolution and concern African elephants. International researchers believe writes The Guardian, what, Making unique sounds, animals call each other by name.

Scientists used an artificial intelligence algorithm to analyze the sounds of two herds of African savanna elephants in Kenya. They discovered that elephants not only use specific vocalizations for each individual, but also respond to calls addressed specifically to them, while ignoring signals addressed to others. Michael Pardo, a behavioral ecologist at Colorado State University, notes:

“This indicates that elephants can tell whether a call is directed at them simply by hearing it.”

The researchers analyzed recordings of elephant sounds* made in Samburu National Game Reserve and Amboseli National Park in Kenya from 1986 to 2022. Using a machine learning algorithm, they identified 469 different sounds, of which 101 elephants made sounds and 117 received them. The range of sounds that elephants make is quite wide – from loud trumpeting to low-frequency humming that the human ear cannot detect.

Animals did not always use names; they were usually used to communicate over long distances or when adult elephants addressed babies. In addition, adult animals used names more often than young ones, indicating that this needs to be learned. The most common sound was “harmonically rich low-frequency sound.”

The researchers played recordings for the elephants of their relatives or friends calling them by name. The animals responded to these sounds positively and energetically. At the same time the same the elephants did not show much interest in other people's “names”.

Scientists have come to the conclusion that elephants do not simply imitate the sounds of other individuals, as dolphins and parrots do, but use their own signals, invented by them. This, according to the researchers, indicates elephants' ability for abstract thinking and makes them the only known animals that, like humans, use arbitrary names to refer to each other. Frank Pope, executive director of Save the Elephants, says:

“Humans and elephants have many things in common, such as large families with rich social lives based on highly developed brains.”

Scientists are calling for further research into the evolutionary origins of this talent, given that elephants' ancestors split from primates and cetaceans about 90 million years ago. Pope notes:

“The fact that elephants use names for each other is likely to give rise to a lot of new discoveries.”

Previously, scientists found out how African elephants greet when meeting: these smart animals have analogues of “human” handshakes and shouts when meeting.

*Elephants can make many different sounds that other animals can hear. The most common sound is the trumpet, used to announce the arrival of a herd or express alarm. Elephants also make a low rumbling sound, used to communicate over long distances.

Source link