• Question: Can different species communicate?

    Asked by N to Carrie, Ellen, Rupert on 17 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Rupert Marshall

      Rupert Marshall answered on 17 Mar 2017:

      Species do respond to other species so yes they do communicate but usually this is not intentional: prey items may react to a predator by running away but the predator did not intend for this to happen. There are two types of communication: signals and cues. Signals are intentional, like birdsong aimed at attracting a mate. Cues are not intentional but other animals react to them anyway. Alarm calls of many birds are very similar so if say a blackbird gives an alarm call then lots of other small birds will react and fly away too. The signal wasn’t aimed at them but they still respond.

      A few species do intentionally communicate. Moray eels and a fish called a grouper work together to hunt – one will find the other and then they will hunt together. You can see a film of this here: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/08/groupers-eels-animals-science-oceans-teamwork-hunting-prey/

    • Photo: Carrie Ijichi

      Carrie Ijichi answered on 17 Mar 2017:

      There are some species that communicate with each other – if understanding each other has a benefit for both species they can learn to. It isn’t that common though so it must be hard to do. Rupert’s example is a really good one

Comments