Animal Communication

Sound Communication

• Types of Vocalizations:
  • Dogs barking
  • Birds singing
• Functions:
  • Mating calls
  • Warning sounds
• Non-Vocal Sounds:
  • Crickets and grasshoppers rubbing legs
  • Rattlesnake tail shaking
• Pros:
  • Fast transmission
  • Can reach many members simultaneously
• Cons:
  • Not private; predators may hear too

Chemical Communication

• Examples:
  • Rats tracking food by smell
  • Pheromones for mating and guiding to food (e.g., ants)
• Pros:
  • Longer-lasting
• Cons:
  • Slower transmission
  • Can become "noisy" in crowded environments

Somatosensory Communication

• Touch and Movements:
  • Mating dances (e.g., Superb Bird of Paradise)
  • Bees' dance to communicate food location
  • Bonding through grooming (birds, apes, monkeys)
• Body Language:
  • Facial expressions (dogs snarling)
  • Ear movements (alarmed vs. scared dogs)
• Other Types:
  • Seismic communication (e.g., spider webs)
  • Electrocommunication (e.g., certain fish)

Visual Communication

• Mating Displays:
  • Peacocks extending feathers
  • Birds puffing up chests
• Color and Patterns:
  • Herring gulls have a red dot for feeding cues
  • Frogs with warning colors
  • Monarch butterflies (toxic) vs. Viceroy butterflies (mimicry)
• Camouflage:
  • Frogs blending with the environment

More Types of Communication

• Bioluminescent Communication:
  • Fireflies glowing to attract mates
• Gaze Following and Social Cues:
  • Indicating the location of food or predators silently

Note

• Various types not covered in detail. Students encouraged to explore further.