Dolphin communication combines sound, posture, touch, and movement. Their underwater world makes sound especially useful because it travels efficiently through water.
Signature whistles
Individuals can develop distinctive whistles associated with identity. These calls may help animals maintain contact when they are separated.
Clicks create an acoustic picture
Echolocation clicks bounce from objects and return as echoes. The timing and qualities of those echoes reveal distance, shape, and other details.
Conversation in a noisy ocean
Shipping, construction, and sonar can alter the acoustic environment. Reducing harmful noise is therefore an important part of marine conservation.