Recent research by marine biologists suggests that bottlenose dolphins have names for themselves. Scientists played sounds they had identified as the names of particular dolphins by putting them through a synthesizer so that they did not sound like the voices of particular dolphins. The researchers found that dolphins would respond to the names of other dolphins to which they were related or with which they were associated, but they ignored the names of strangers. This discovery suggests a much greater degree of self-awareness in aquatic mammals than was previously suspected. If this research is accurate, what does it suggest about dolphins?

Question

Dwayne Villanueva

Social Studies

23 October, 17:51

Recent research by marine biologists suggests that bottlenose dolphins have names for themselves. Scientists played sounds they had identified as the names of particular dolphins by putting them through a synthesizer so that they did not sound like the voices of particular dolphins. The researchers found that dolphins would respond to the names of other dolphins to which they were related or with which they were associated, but they ignored the names of strangers. This discovery suggests a much greater degree of self-awareness in aquatic mammals than was previously suspected. If this research is accurate, what does it suggest about dolphins?

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Lindsey Ware · Answer 1

They have a sense of self similar to that of humans.

Explanation:

Few animals such as apes, monkeys, elephants, and dolphins have shown that they have a sense of self. Generally this has been proved by the use of mirrors.

Here, the dolphins recognize the sounds as the names of their friends. They do not react to strangers' names. This means they recognized their own name. As they have associated themselves with a name they understand the concept of self.

Hence, the dolphins have a sense of self, similar to that of humans.