Spontaneous pointing by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Xitco, Mark J.; Gory, John D.; Kuczaj, Stan A.

doi:10.1007/s100710100107

Cited by 81 publications

(73 citation statements)

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“…Vertical posturing has been observed in a variety of contexts, including spontaneous pointing behavior in bottlenose dolphins (Xitco, Gory, & Kuczaj, 2001), orienting toward dead conspecifics (Dudzinski et al, 2003), and mating avoidance in spinner dolphins (Silva, Silva, & Sazima, 2005). Vertical positioning with limited to no active movement by a dolphin has also been seen in play behavior in bottlenose dolphins (Kuczaj & Makecha, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Underwater observations of dolphin reactions to a distressed conspecific

et al. 2015

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This report describes the epimeletic (or Bcaregiving^) behavior produced by members of a group of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the possible role of the ailing animal's distress call in eliciting such behavior. Epimeletic behavior in cetaceans most typically involves forms of support provided to a distressed, injured, or dying animal (Caldwell & Caldwell, 1966). Analyses of underwater video and corresponding acoustic recordings revealed a distressed dolphin (the DD) that frequently produced what are most likely distress calls, often paired with the emission of long bubble streams. The frequency of her whistle production was positively correlated with the frequency of the supporting behaviors the DD received from other dolphins. These helping behaviors included raft formations, lifts, and stimulating pushes that were predominantly directed toward the upper third of the DD's body, all of which appeared to be directed towards bringing the DD toward the surface so that she could breathe. This is the first documented underwater account of multiple wild bottlenose dolphins providing epimeletic care to a distressed conspecific, and highlights the possible role of distress calls in such scenarios.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Underwater observations of dolphin reactions to a distressed conspecific

et al. 2015

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“…Both dolphins had prior experience in echolocation matching research (Xitco & Roitblat, 1996) and had also participated in a long-term study designed to discern how adept dolphins could become at learning to use symbols located on a large underwater keyboard to communicate with humans. One of the consequences of the dolphins' interactions with humans and the keyboard was the emergence of spontaneous pointing by the dolphins (Xitco, Gory & Kuczaj, 2001). The dolphins pointed at objects when they wanted humans to do something with the objects.…”

Section: Do Big Brains Mean More Intelligence?mentioning

confidence: 99%

How intelligent are dolphins? A partial answer based on their ability to plan their behavior when confronted with novel problems

Kuczaj

Gory²,

Xitco

2009

Japanese Journal of Animal Psychology

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The nature and extent of dolphin intelligence has long intrigued humans. Unequivocal answers to the question "how intelligent are dolphins?" have proven evasive due to both the existing myriad views of intelligence and the ambiguity of much spontaneous dolphin behavior. In this paper, we focus on one aspect of intelligence, namely the ability to plan one's behavior in a meaningful way. The generalized ability to create novel and appropriate behavioral plans when confronted with new problems has obvious evolutionary advantages, but has been found in relatively few species. The studies reported in this paper demonstrate planning behaviors in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in conditions quite different from those that occur during dolphin foraging and mating (two areas in which wild dolphins may engage in planning). The dolphins' ability to plan their behaviors in these novel contexts provides additional evidence that generalized planning ability is not unique to humans, and demonstrate that human-like language is not required for generalized planning skills. These findings also suggest that in addition to species niche specific cognitive abilities, generalized cognitive abilities may play an important role in the evolutionary success of some species.

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“…From a behavioral perspective, there have been extensive studies of cognitive capabilities of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) demonstrating their sophisticated cognitive abilities [21,22,86,87]. These various studies illustrate impressive learning capacities and behavioral flexibility in dolphins.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Cetacean Intelligence Special? New Perspectives on the Debate

Chinea

2017

Entropy

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Abstract:In recent years, the interpretation of our observations of animal behaviour, in particular that of cetaceans, has captured a substantial amount of attention in the scientific community. The traditional view that supports a special intellectual status for this mammalian order has fallen under significant scrutiny, in large part due to problems of how to define and test the cognitive performance of animals. This paper presents evidence supporting complex cognition in cetaceans obtained using the recently developed intelligence and embodiment hypothesis. This hypothesis is based on evolutionary neuroscience and postulates the existence of a common information-processing principle associated with nervous systems that evolved naturally and serves as the foundation from which intelligence can emerge. This theoretical framework explaining animal intelligence in neural computational terms is supported using a new mathematical model. Two pathways leading to higher levels of intelligence in animals are identified, each reflecting a trade-off either in energetic requirements or the number of neurons used. A description of the evolutionary pathway that led to increased cognitive capacities in cetacean brains is detailed and evidence supporting complex cognition in cetaceans is presented. This paper also provides an interpretation of the adaptive function of cetacean neuronal traits.

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Spontaneous pointing by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Cited by 81 publications

References 1 publication

Underwater observations of dolphin reactions to a distressed conspecific

Underwater observations of dolphin reactions to a distressed conspecific

How intelligent are dolphins? A partial answer based on their ability to plan their behavior when confronted with novel problems

Is Cetacean Intelligence Special? New Perspectives on the Debate

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