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Killer Whales Caught On Tape Speaking Dolphin

sciencehabit writes Two years ago, scientists showed that dolphins imitate the sounds of whales. Now, it seems, whales have returned the favor. Researchers analyzed the vocal repertoires of 10 captive orcas, three of which lived with bottlenose dolphins and the rest with their own kind. Of the 1551 vocalizations these seven latter orcas made, more than 95% were the typical pulsed calls of killer whales. In contrast, the three orcas that had only dolphins as pals busily whistled and emitted dolphinlike click trains and terminal buzzes, the scientists report in the October issue of The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. The findings make orcas one of the few species of animals that, like humans, is capable of vocal learning (video)—a talent considered a key underpinning of language."

152 comments

  1. Loosely translated: by halivar · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Hey buddy. Hey pal. You wanna come swim in my tank? Come jump on over, my tasty friend. We have lots of fish to fill your delicious belly."

    1. Re:Loosely translated: by sycodon · · Score: 0

      Whale: Me no likey fishy. Me likey seals. You likey fish? capiche?

      Dolphin: Shit, where's this guy from?

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    2. Re:Loosely translated: by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

      No, I'm pretty sure the killer whale taught himself to say, "Look, there's no way your husband could find out".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Loosely translated: by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Whale: Me no likey fishy. Me likey seals. You likey fish? capiche?

      Dolphin: Shit, where's this guy from?

      In BC, we have two kinds of orcas. The "resident orca" population actually eats fish (salmon) most of the time. The others are "transient" and they are the ones that eat seals.

      Both are orcas, but they have completely different diets.

      Dolphins though generally eat smaller fish.

      OTOH, one wonders if orcas do it to eat dolphins. (They aren't called "killer whales" for nothing).

      Seals have also been known to seek the sanctuary of whalewatching boats while escaping a bunch of hungry orcas.

    4. Re:Loosely translated: by Mal-2 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dolphin to Orca: Hey man, you need to get checked out. It looks like you blew a seal.

      Orca to Dolphin: Nope, it's just ice cream.

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    5. Re:Loosely translated: by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 2

      "Candygram."

      --
      They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
    6. Re:Loosely translated: by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      Dolphin to Orca: Hey man, you need to get checked out. It looks like you blew a seal.

      Orca to Dolphin: Nope, it's just ice cream.

      Are you sure you are not confusing it with a sperm whale?

    7. Re:Loosely translated: by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 1

      OTOH, one wonders if orcas do it to eat dolphins. (They aren't called "killer whales" for nothing).

      Considering on the Planet Earth series, or something similar, they filmed a pod of orcas spending hours wearing out a larger whale, of some other species, and her calf until they were able to kill and eat the calf. I'd guess they might if the opportunity presented itself.

    8. Re:Loosely translated: by CarbonShell · · Score: 2

      If you think about it, it all makes kinda sense. The name 'killer whale' is wrong (result of a bad translation), it should be 'whale killer' and with a revelation like this, I think it makes the Orca a more perfect hunter as it not only hunts whales in packs and communicate between each other, it could also speak and understand the language of it's prey.

      Orca Alpha (voice only): Yo bro, wanna buy some Krill? Got the best $hit around.
      Whale approaches. Gang of Orcas pop out from behind an iceberg.
      Whale: Like, OMG! Orcas! Run!
      Orca Alpha: Hehe. Run my friend and you will only die tired. Attack formation Delta-Y

    9. Re: Loosely translated: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought $hit was a php variable at first

    10. Re:Loosely translated: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The orca used to be a sperm whale, but then he was a blue whale.

    11. Re:Loosely translated: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fa love pa.

  2. Inter-species communication by freality · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hmm.. Language learning could as well be within-species. Sounds more interesting here that dolphins and orcas can communicate spontaneously given close quarters.

    1. Re:Inter-species communication by mattack2 · · Score: 2

      The summary at least says "imitate".

      Sure, making noise is some limited form of communication (a dog barking is 'telling' you something). But unless TFA goes into more actual detail, this isn't true inter-species communication, but mimicry. Is a parrot "communicating" with you when it says "Polly want a cracker?"

    2. Re:Inter-species communication by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does he want a cracker? ;P

      But you make a good point, since we don't really know the context of their communication. If it's limited to relatively direct mimicry with no context or understanding, then they aren't truly communicating. (they might understand that they are "speaking" to a member of the other species, but if they don't know what they're saying that sounds more like a play behavior or something of that sort - they didn't learn any "language," and aren't really doing anything even as impressive as learning to "communicate" with a human through body language... even if i accurately mimic the sounds the dog makes and he notices, I'm not really communicating anything to him)

    3. Re:Inter-species communication by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He could be.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_%28parrot%29

    4. Re:Inter-species communication by Nethead · · Score: 2

      My parrot will say "Want more" when I'm eating something he wants. If he likes it he will say "Good shit, Maynard." or "Good shit cheese" if it's cheese. Once I gave him American Cheese and he threw it to the ground and said, "No! Good shit cheese!", so I gave him some Swiss.

      When he wants to go back to his cage to sleep he'll say, "Wanna go to bed?" and if I leave the lights on he'll say, "Lights off."

      Yes, there are often times he says things and makes noise for no good reason, but hey, we all do that.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    5. Re:Inter-species communication by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      My brother has had a white cockatoo for a couple of decades and like your parrot it says all sorts of things in context, for example whenever someone comes through the front door he says "G'day mate". Nobody taught it that phrase, basically it will start repeating any phrase it hears often enough in the same circumstances. To me it's clear that parrots are not always just mimicking, when they ask for food, lights and their bed in the right context they are clearly communicating. When the cockatoo teaches itself to say "G'Day mate" it's not getting any reward accept attention, which is pretty much the same way a human child learns to speak.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    6. Re:Inter-species communication by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      Is a parrot "communicating" with you when it says "Polly want a cracker?"

      If it wants one and has received them in the past using that sound, then clearly, yes. The "monkey see, monkey do" hypothesis is nonsense born from the perfectly natural tendency of humans to believe they hold a special place in the animal kingdom. For example, there's a native bird in the hills near where I live called a lyrebird. It's said to be the world's best mimic (check it out on YT), it will accurately mimic any other sound it hears.

      What people rarely mention, or even notice, about this "mimic" is that it is also displaying creativity when it takes those sounds and forms a unique song. Once it has created its own unique song it remembers it and builds on it in the next mating season, similar to the way jazz musicians improvise around a basic theme. But a more accurate analogy would be a musician who creates aesthetically pleasing soundtracks from samples to attract and impress the opposite sex, both analogies also imply the opposite sex posses some form of "artistic taste".

      What TFA really shows is that dolphins and whales adapt their "language" to the environment they find themselves in. Humans also do this, nobody is surprised when an English baby born in England but raised by Chinese parents in China, grows up speaking Chinese. Apes can do it via sign language but they will never speak to us because their vocal chord anatomy is not up to the task

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    7. Re:Inter-species communication by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      (except attention)

      Yes, so that's simple positive reinforcement, like a dog wagging its tail when you pet it, which people anthropomorphize into "happiness".

      (You and some of the other responses seem to think I'm claiming people aren't animals. I'm not.. I was simply pointing out that the summary talked about mimicry, and not what I'd call more sophisticated communication.)

    8. Re:Inter-species communication by Pseudonym · · Score: 2

      The summary at least says "imitate".

      Indeed. For all we know, this could be the equivalent of Charlie Chan. Did anyone ask the dolphins if they find it offensive?

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
    9. Re:Inter-species communication by scubamage · · Score: 1

      I think you're understating what parrots are actually able to do. It's easy to generalize as "polly want a cracker," but the very well established case study of Alex the parrot shows they're able to do significantly more AND understand what they're doing.

    10. Re:Inter-species communication by scubamage · · Score: 1

      Babies receive positive reinforcement every step of the way as their speech patterns develop. There's a reason why they are happy when moms and dads are delighted when all of that goading with "can you say 'ma-ma!??'" or "can you say 'da da!??!'" finally gets an imitated response as early as 6 months. Cognitively though, while they can utter those items that early, they have no idea what they mean. Research suggests that at that point, it's unlikely they comprehend much more than their name and some onomatopoeia-ic vocalizations (NO! - a short, sharp sound indicating to stop what you're doing, similar to the tsh! sound made by cats and lots of other species) up until around 12 months.What drives them to develop so fast is lots of imitation and positive reinforcement from their parents and everyone they interact with. Trying to say that animal communication can be disregarded because of reinforcement or imitation disregards that almost all communication in the socially accepted manner develops based on reinforcement and imitation. All communication begins as mimicry, but given time all evidence points towards cognition developing. It's been seen in parrots, dogs, gorillas, dolphins, chimps, and more.

    11. Re:Inter-species communication by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Neighbors of mine had a cockatoo that would imitate a smoke detector. Had the volume and pitch down quite closely.

      That was pretty irritating.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    12. Re:Inter-species communication by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 1

      There are some talking birds that I'm convinced they have at least some idea of what they are saying. Many, if not most simply make noises that the human they are bonded to get excited/happy about.

      I was with a friend at a drive through once and the last thing she ordered was french fires. The cashier didn't hear her and asked what the last thing she ordered was. Before she could open her mouth her pet cockatoo yelled "FRIES, FUCKER!" Of course when we drove up to the window he wouldn't say a word.

      Another friend of mine had a blue-fronted amazon parrot. He loved doughnuts. Anytime anyone came into the house with a doughnut, or a bag or box from Dunkin Donuts he would immediately ask "What's that?" in a coy kind of voice. if that didn't work he demanded you "Come over here!" If that failed his last effort was "I love you." His name was Quasi(moto) He would also stand in front of a mirror and say "You're a pretty bird Quasi"

    13. Re:Inter-species communication by RobertM1968 · · Score: 1

      The summary at least says "imitate".

      Sure, making noise is some limited form of communication (a dog barking is 'telling' you something). But unless TFA goes into more actual detail, this isn't true inter-species communication, but mimicry. Is a parrot "communicating" with you when it says "Polly want a cracker?"

      Actually, that's speculation on your part. Because WE don't understand it, it doesn't mean it's mimicry. Since dolphins do indeed seem to have language, names and definitely can understand sentence structures (as we do), it's more likely your speculation is wrong.

    14. Re:Inter-species communication by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      Actually, that's speculation on your part. Because WE don't understand it, it doesn't mean it's mimicry. Since dolphins do indeed seem to have language, names and definitely can understand sentence structures (as we do), it's more likely your speculation is wrong.

      But that doesn't mean that a dolphin can understand the _language_ and _sentence structures_ of whales.. (this story was actually about the reverse, whales mimicing dolphins.. but the hypothesis goes both ways.)

      Even if it can mimic the sounds of the other species, it doesn't mean it understands it and can have a two way conversation. If further proof happens that this is possible, that would be awesome.

    15. Re:Inter-species communication by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get rid of that "almost" before "all communication". Communication is nothing but imitation for the sake of reward. You're imitating somebody who made you feel bad to get the reward of making somebody else feel bad. You're imitating whoever first took you to a restaurant to order food when you get hungry, to get the reward of food. You're imitating whoever taught you how to use a computer to get the reward of people returning communication. Imitating has a really stupid and nonsensical negative connotation that it shouldn't have. If something is imitating you, that something likely has a significant degree of intelligence.

  3. Whales? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Aren't Orcas dolphins?

    1. Re:Whales? by halivar · · Score: 2

      No. They are both cetaceans, though.

    2. Re:Whales? by pjt33 · · Score: 2

      Yes. And dolphins are apparently classified as toothed whales, just to completely confuse things.

    3. Re:Whales? by jklovanc · · Score: 3, Informative

      They both belong to the same family

    4. Re:Whales? by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 0

      (Insert toothless whale / West Virginian female comment here.)

    5. Re:Whales? by kwiqsilver · · Score: 2

      Orcas are part of the oceanic dolphin family, which is part of the toothed whale sub order.

    6. Re:Whales? by toejam13 · · Score: 2

      And upon hearing that the hyperspace bypass committee had approved the project, they were last heard saying: "So long, and thanks for all the seals"

    7. Re:Whales? by mrbester · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your mom gets enough publicity as it is...

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    8. Re:Whales? by SumDog · · Score: 1

      They're porpoises and they are also very closely related. Orcas are closer to dolphins than they are other most other whale species.

    9. Re:Whales? by Arancaytar · · Score: 5, Funny

      [cetacean needed]

    10. Re:Whales? by rmdingler · · Score: 1

      Crafty. Well done.

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

    11. Re:Whales? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why does this still have a score of 3? It's just plainly wrong.
      The superfamily of the dolphins and their relatives contains three families, oceanic dolphins, single toothed dolphins and porpoises.
      The oceanic dolphins family contains a subfamily of orca-like dolphins, which contains the orca (a.k.a. killer whale).

    12. Re:Whales? by warpuck · · Score: 0

      I saw one of those today. She was in a over sized motor chair and it was straining making the transition from the street to the sidewalk.

  4. Free the bastards! by Scottingham · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All the more reason to free these suckers...god damn.

    I get it though, they're no longer suited to living in the wild, etc etc. Can't we help them out with some head-mounted lasers or something?

    1. Re:Free the bastards! by Flavianoep · · Score: 1

      Head-mounted lasers are for sharks. There is, however specific equipment intended to dolphins.

      --
      Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
    2. Re:Free the bastards! by nytes · · Score: 1

      Lasers?! Don't be silly. What do you think they are, sharks?

      --
      -- I have monkeys in my pants.
    3. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are a lot of apes in prison all over the country. Being able to communicate is not reason for a 'right' to be free.

    4. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >I get it though, they're no longer suited to living in the wild, etc etc.

      First you say they should be released because they are intelligent. Then you say they shouldn't because they are not.
      It's like saying if someone was in jail for 10 years, he cannot be released ever, because he's no longer be able to live in the wild.

    5. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's like saying if someone was in jail for 10 years, he cannot be released ever, because he's no longer be able to live in the wild.

      Recidivism rates would seem to support this theory.

    6. Re:Free the bastards! by Kielistic · · Score: 1

      Well they probably wouldn't be able to survive in the wild. That has nothing to do with society though.

    7. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Not only that, these cetaceans have absolutely no regard for the law. Fishing without proper permits, crossing jurisdictional boundaries without a passport, public indecency, and so on.

    8. Re:Free the bastards! by rainmaestro · · Score: 1

      Depends on how long they have been captive. Orcas have complex group dynamics, both socially and for hunting, so an orca that was never taught those skills as a youngster would be incapable of joining a group and surviving. About 2/3 of orcas currently in parks weren't even born in the wild, which means they never learned how to hunt and survive in a group.

      Raise someone in a jail cell from birth, then at 30 drop them into the world all alone with nothing. What are the odds that they would survive? There's a big difference between innate intelligence and life skills.

      Sad as it is, most captive orcas wouldn't survive long in the wild.

    9. Re:Free the bastards! by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      If we gave dolphins lasers, we'd quickly have a rebellion on our hands.

    10. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our society does do a poor job of helping people out, and a long time in jail does make it difficult (or sometimes impossible) to reintegrate into society. But we still have a relatively more "safe" environment than the wild, where animals die every day from not being fit enough to survive. There is one other huge problem, other than "natural" predators: People are also apex predators, and an animal that isn't scared of people can easily endanger itself. (or people, depending upon if humans are likely to be hunting it when they encounter it)

    11. Re:Free the bastards! by whistlingtony · · Score: 1

      why not? Here we have to have enough skills to get a job so we can buy food... But our food isn't just swimming along next to us. It's right there.... what's the problem? Why wouldn't a freed orca know to chase down an X and eat it?

    12. Re:Free the bastards! by rainmaestro · · Score: 1

      Do we? I mean, food is just out there in the wilderness waiting for us to pick it. It's right there...what's the problem? Yet for all our intelligence, people consistently fail to survive when stranded alone in the wilderness, even though there's food all around them.

      Orcas are basically oceanic wolves: they live, move and hunt in packs, whether it is tail slapping to get seals or corralling fish. Orcas hardly ever survive alone, even those that are raised in a group. Luna is one of the few from recent memory. The reality is still that most of these captive orcas wouldn't be able to make it alone in the wild. A small number would, but most wouldn't.

    13. Re:Free the bastards! by TWX · · Score: 1

      I have a novel idea...

      How about searching for a large briny or brackish inland lake, something actually big enough to offer a degree of freedom to Orcas, and turn them loose there where one can keep an eye on them and provide food? It could either serve as a halfway-house for release into the wild, or could become a permanent home for those that demonstrate that they can't provide for themselves. One could make the venture profitable by having whale-watching tours with glass-bottom surface craft and with submersible craft, and perhaps the animals could actually enjoy some freedom.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    14. Re:Free the bastards! by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      what's the problem?

      Ironically, your assumption that fish just calmly swim about waiting to be eaten by a 30 ton killer whale is an excellent example of the GP's original point about humans and jail cells.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    15. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why wouldn't a freed orca know to chase down an X and eat it?

      Well, one reason would be that orcas are one of the few species where the mother spends a significant time teaching the child hunting methods.
      Here is a group of orcas teaching a child how to create artificial waves to get to a sea-lion. Notice how they don't even eat the sea-lion at the end, they only use it to teach the child.
      Some orcas also teach their young how to use one wave to get to seals that thinks they are safe on land and the next to unstrand themselves.
      The hunting methods differ a bit depending on family and region since its not a genetic trait but something that is taught from mother to child.
      An orca raised in captivity and thrown out in the ocean will be at a great disadvantage.

    16. Re:Free the bastards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It has been foretold...

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...

    17. Re:Free the bastards! by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      public indecency, and so on.

      And lewd conduct/sexual assault as well. Dolphins can and DO sometimes rub genitals on human handlers.

  5. Whales? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Aren't orcas dolphins?

  6. So we can't eat them? by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    anymore... Put away his Orca on a stick corn dog....

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  7. Orcas *are* dolphins.... by ityllux · · Score: 1

    Just sayin'.

    1. Re:Orcas *are* dolphins.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they're porpoises, yes, but not dolphins (which are also porpoises)

  8. Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by BringsApples · · Score: 1, Informative

    These are also the only mammals (or anything for that matter) that have blowholes. They're both mammals. And both have tails that are flat horizontally rather than vertically. They both also are capable of being thankful to other species when it applies.

    --
    Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    1. Re:Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fascinating, but why are you submitting your third grade science homework to Slashdot?

    2. Re:Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by sexconker · · Score: 1

      These are also the only mammals (or anything for that matter) that have blowholes.

      Lawyers and politicians have blowholes, though many of them are Reptilians.

    3. Re: Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by jd2112 · · Score: 1

      Calling politicians reptiles is giving them too much credit and offensive to reptiles. Fungus might be a closer match as there seems to be some similarity with slime molds. Some mushrooms however may still be offended by the comparison.

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
    4. Re: Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      How about viruses? They're masses of DNA just coherent enough to wreak havoc without actually doing anything themselves.

    5. Re: Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Not reptiles. Reptilians.
      Yes, I use Bing.

    6. Re:Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by BringsApples · · Score: 1

      Well, is it really 3rd grade stuff, or is that all that you can relate it to? Connecting the dots is the art of life my friend. There is a lot more that I'd like to say about this, but it's really not proper for slashdot.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    7. Re:Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by markass530 · · Score: 1

      yea you pretty much sounded exactly like 3rd grader giving a presentation to the class about whales and dolphins

    8. Re:Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by BringsApples · · Score: 1

      There was no other way, my friend. And now, thanks to the work and discoveries made by these scientists, third graders have another way to compare dauphins and whales. Generally, great discoveries can be made from connecting dots, regardless what "grade" those dots seem to exist in.

      One bit that I find extremely interesting (and beyond what we covered in third grade):
      Baleen whales have two blowholes positioned in a V-shape while toothed whales have only one blowhole. The blowhole of a sperm whale, a toothed whale, is located left of center in the frontal area of the snout, and is actually its left nostril, while the right nostril lacks an opening to the surface despite the fact that its nasal passage is otherwise well developed. --wikipedia

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
  9. I wonder, what they are saying... by mi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are they thanking us for all the fish?.. I'm worried now...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:I wonder, what they are saying... by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Why would you be worried? Did you lose your towel?

    2. Re:I wonder, what they are saying... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes

  10. Well shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The plot to overthrow us is underway :(.

  11. I wonder .... by gstoddart · · Score: 1

    I wonder if they speak it with an accent, like when I try to speak a little Spanish. :-P

    I guess this doesn't seem all that surprising (on the surface, to someone who admittedly doesn't know much about it).

    A huge amount of their brains is geared towards processing sound because they use sonar. Is picking up some dolphin sounds really that much of a stretch?

    I mean, I can haltingly say "dos cerveza por favor" and "ron negro con jugo de pina" ... and my wife assures me I'm an idiot.

    Whales and the like are smart enough to hunt in packs. I can't even dribble a basketball very well. :-P

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:I wonder .... by Kielistic · · Score: 2

      Cervezas. Dos cervezas. Perhaps why your wife is mocking you.

    2. Re:I wonder .... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google Translate will turn "dos cerveza por favor" into "of beer please," but turns "dos cervezas por favor" into "Dos cervezas please."

      I speak about ten words of Spanish, which I've picked up from TV (I live in a country with virtually no Spanish on TV), so can you explain to me why this is?

    3. Re:I wonder .... by Kielistic · · Score: 1

      It looks like Google translate is not detecting the language right. There are many languages that share words and basic structure and spelling rules with Spanish. Judging by the translation it is giving you it appears to be confusing it with another language. When I tested it it confused it with Galician. A relatively small language spoken in an area of Spain bordering Portugal which is why it has traits of both Spanish and Portuguese (dos = "of the" in Galician/Portuguese but means "two" in Spanish).

      The reason it is "dos cervezas" and not "dos cerveza" is exactly the same reason it is "two beers" and not "two beer" in English.

  12. Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're not even the smartest.
    Yet we constantly strive for a definition of "intelligent" that includes all humans, and excludes all non-humans.
    Get over it already. All megafauna is intelligent or it wouldn't have made it this long.

    1. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Scottingham · · Score: 1

      They probably look at us and think: "There but for the lack of thumbs go I"

    2. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Humans are bipedal creatures from Earth, and the third most intelligent species on that planet, surpassed only by mice and dolphins. Originally thought to have evolved from proto-apes, humans may in fact be descendants of Golgafrinchan telephone sanitizers, account executives, and marketing analysts who were tricked out of leaving their home planet to arrive on the planet Earth in two million BC.

    3. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We seem to be the best at abstract problem solving, which is a skill that has taken us very far indeed. It's definitely a continuum, and a number of species are closer in many ways than we usually consider ... but for the kind of thing we typically call "intelligence", we do come out on top.

    4. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Falos · · Score: 1

      Intelligence can be dangerous if not rounded out. Dogs probably look at us and think "If I had those, I would invent hand tools and make soooooooo much bacon."

      It's a miracle humans got anything done after that mark.

    5. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      For the things a cat typically considers intelligence, I bet that cats come out on top, too.

    6. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by khellendros1984 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      All megafauna is intelligent or it wouldn't have made it this long.

      All megafauna have a combination of adaptive traits for their environment, some of which may be traits that we'd categorize under "intelligence". Intelligence isn't a scalar value. We might be able to measure its components by providing tasks that measure the presence and efficiency of specific capabilities of the brain and call the geometric distance from the 0-point "intelligence", but different animals will fall within different places in that multi-dimensional space. Some animals will have better scores than humans, in some dimensions. I'd posit that humans would have the greatest geometric distance from "0", though.

      --
      It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
    7. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      Wait a minute... did Douglas Adams get a writing credit for the final episode of (rot13 spoiler alert) Onggyrfgne Tnynpgvpn?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    8. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Kielistic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What is with this new "humans are dumb" nonsense? Anything a cat can do a human can out-think and do better. Which is why any cat that is a physical threat to us or competes with us is endangered. They may fit their niche better than a human would but that does not make them more intelligent than a human.

    9. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So I was not the only one who thought about it.

    10. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The humans are dumb nonsense comes from the fact that animals are smart enough to achieve equilibrium with their environment while humans pave a path of destruction anymore they go.

      While humans are smart in many ways, greed is a fault that has gotten completely out of control on a mostly global scale. As a society based around capitalism and material possession you would expect the happiest people to rich, this is decidedly not so. It is exceedingly rare for someone who is rich with money to also be happy. The happiest people achieve balance in their lives. Enough money to make life comfortable and they are good to go. This is much like most animals in the rest of our ecosystem.

    11. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by 0123456 · · Score: 1

      The humans are dumb nonsense comes from the fact that animals are smart enough to achieve equilibrium with their environment while humans pave a path of destruction anymore they go.

      In other words, just more hippie nonsense.

    12. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Lotana · · Score: 2

      The humans are dumb nonsense comes from the fact that animals are smart enough to achieve equilibrium with their environment while humans pave a path of destruction anymore they go.

      Why is it so many people see humans as not part of nature?

      If we build a dam, we are damaging the ecology. If a family of beavers build a dam, it is all natural. If we grow a cow and slaughter it in a slaughterhouse, it is barbaric and unnatural. Yet when a lioness brings down a buffalo that is all fine and part of the circle of life. Why is a piece of plastic artificial, but a piece of wood carved by a beaver is not?

      In my opinion humans are animals that change their environment around them to suit their needs. Just like a bird that makes a nest to care and protect its young. A city is much more comfortable for us than a forest. An airplane is a tool to get around just like a spider that builds a sail out of a web to use wind to get across a river.

      Yes, we are VERY good at what we do. With our usurpassed intelligence and social hierarchies we have tames the most hostile of environments. All this "destruction" you accuse humanity of is just nature rearanging itself to another state.

    13. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's nonsensical about "Don't take more than you can grow"?

    14. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Wycliffe · · Score: 1

      Intelligence as a survival trait, we (at least collectively) are second to none.
      A few animals might be able to use simple tools and solve simple problems
      but doing things like surviving in a hostile environment, getting out of a trap,
      etc.. no other animals even gets close. No other animal can survive equally
      as well in the desert and a blizzard. No other animal has mastered fire,
      weapons, or escaping from a deadly situation better than humans.
      Being able to escape a deadly situation is probably one of the best universal
      tests of intelligence for living organisms.

    15. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by WrongMonkey · · Score: 1

      Animals do not achieve an equilibrium by choice. They just die of mass starvation whenever they exceed the carrying capacity of the local environment.

    16. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Somebody+Is+Using+My · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The humans are dumb nonsense comes from the fact that animals are smart enough to achieve equilibrium with their environment while humans pave a path of destruction anymore they go.

      Says anyone who doesn't have beavers on their property.

      Animals do not have any innate instinct towards living in equilibrium with their environment. If they did, imported species wouldn't overrun their new homes (ask Australians how well cane toads and rabbits are finding a "natural balance"). All animals will do what is necessary to breed to the maximum their environment will allow, even if it is catastrophic to that environment. Humanity is unusual only in the sense of our extreme adaptability to differing climatic regions and the fact that - with the use of tools - were have no natural predators to keep our numbers in check.

      If anything, humanity is the most environmentally-friendly of creatures, because we alone consider (albeit not often enough) the consequences of our actions upon the rest of the world and sometimes work against our own immediate interests for the betterment of the world at large.

      Which is not to excuse our rapine habits, of course; we as a species are a danger to the current natural balance. But let's not kid ourselves; no other animal would be any better.

    17. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      If we build a dam, we are damaging the ecology. If a family of beavers build a dam, it is all natural.

      Yes. That's right. Because when we build a dam, we hold back a massive shitload of water and flood gigantic regions. When a beaver builds a dam, it holds back relatively little water and floods small regions. Instead of covering the land with deep water, it makes a swampy area which builds up biomass rapidly.

      If we grow a cow and slaughter it in a slaughterhouse, it is barbaric and unnatural. Yet when a lioness brings down a buffalo that is all fine and part of the circle of life.

      Yes, that's a big nonsensical. I do think there is something to be said for avoiding cruelty, however. I think we can improve upon nature, with sufficient study and care. On the other hand, nature as we know it is a system of if not biostasis, at least punctuated biostasis. It's been self-perpetuating for some cycles now. It's a thing that would have continued without us, and it's what would go on if we weren't here. Perhaps we could imagine new names for it, but it's still a useful concept.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    18. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Kielistic · · Score: 1

      In other words you grew up in a large urban environment and have never actually seen nature let alone understand it and all your knowledge of the wild comes from Disney movies.

      Nature does not "achieve" equilibrium. Equilibrium is an emergent property (and an illusion) of having everything grabbing anything it can and killing anything it can get away with. If nature actually reached equilibrium evolution would cease and no species would ever spread. Wild animals regularly breed themselves into starvation. I encourage to read into why hunting seasons are a thing.

    19. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by donak · · Score: 1

      If I'm so smart, and my cat is so dumb, why am I the one opening a can of tuna every night? ... and then putting it on the floor and standing well back, in case her intense gaze and licking-of-lips isn't because I'm holding said can?

      --
      Don't blame me, it's usually 2 in the morning when I post ...
    20. Re:Humans are not only not the only intelligence by Kielistic · · Score: 1

      Because you value the companionship and sense of worth it gives you. "If I'm so smart and my car is so inanimate then why do I put so much effort into its existence?"

      When cats figure out how to catch, can and distribute tuna you might have a point.

  13. Orcas are dolphins! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    from wikipedia - "the species is more closely related to other dolphins than to whales".
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale

    How do they know that the dolphins aren't ventriloquists?

    1. Re:Orcas are dolphins! by mrbester · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can see their lips move.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
  14. Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by skine · · Score: 3, Interesting

    TFS seems to imply some divide between dolphins and whales, where orcas fall into the latter. Orcas and dolphins share the same subfamily.

    For comparison, humans and chimps share the same subfamily, and there are clear examples of similarities between us (assuming most of you are human) and chimps. Thus it's not exactly surprising to find similarities between orcas and dolphins.

    1. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by neoritter · · Score: 1

      Have you met a chimp that has learned to talk yet?

    2. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by swb · · Score: 2

      Isn't the limitation physiological? Something to do with an inability to precisely control their vocal cords like humans?

      I thought they had taught a few to use sign language.

    3. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by ericloewe · · Score: 2

      Sign language is pretty damn close.

    4. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you are correct on both accounts (although as far as I remember it's the larynx and not the vocal cords which makes it impossible).

    5. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by neoritter · · Score: 1

      Of course it's physiological. The point I'm making is that nothing about them being the same subfamily would make that they would be able to talk to each other any more or less surprising.

    6. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Well the problem is that chimps cannot communicate recreate the same sounds as humans can. Yes they can use sign language but dolphins and killer whales can't do that. What scientists have not seen before is whether orcas and dolphins can make the same sounds.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    7. Re:Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by skine · · Score: 1

      To complete the comparison:

      Whale is to dolphin what monkey is to human.

      That is, a dolphin is a species of whale, just as a human is a species of monkey.

  15. timtowdi by mjm1231 · · Score: 0

    One of these days, we are going to figure out that intelligence != human intelligence. Who knows, maybe it'll be before the alien overlords who haven't learned their equivalent show up?

    --
    Ideology: A tool used primarily to avoid the bother of thinking.
  16. Sorry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Taped evidence is inadmissable without a warrant.

  17. Whales and Daulphins - blowholes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Orin Hatch has a blowhole, but I'm not entirely certain he's a mammal.

  18. Vocal Learning by PPH · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A talent shared by other species (parrots, for example).

    I wondered if the errant pings from MH370 that various navies were chasing might be immitations of the actual FDR sonar pinger made by some sea creatures. Dolphins (or something) hear the real pinger and then figure out that if they imitate the noise, people in ships will come over to 'play'.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:Vocal Learning by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      IIRC, Carl Sagan said in one of his books that he believed we were "TV for dolphins", their entertainment.

  19. Parrots and chimpanzees by ls671 · · Score: 1

    In other news, parrots who live with humans learn to speak human languages and some chimpanzees living with smokers have even learned to smoke cigarettes.

    I guess those things are bound to happen when two species hang together when their anatomies allow to.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...

    --
    Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    1. Re:Parrots and chimpanzees by Patent+Lover · · Score: 1

      That smoking chimp is old news compared to this one: http://drawsiness.blogspot.com...

  20. Sigh by ledow · · Score: 1

    I'm always amazed at how WE'RE always amazed (or supposed to be) that animals can do things that we do.

    There are fewer and fewer and fewer things that are the realm of humans alone (and even then, it's generally only by scale, rather than actual ability).

    We're animals. They are animals. We all do things like "try to sound like other animals we hear".

    1. Re:Sigh by shadowrat · · Score: 1

      I'm not shocked by this news, yet i still find it amazing. there's nothing wrong with seeing the world with wonder.

  21. The Orca said to the Dolphin.... by SGDarkKnight · · Score: 2

    Orca: What do you mean "So long, and thanks for all the fish"? What aren't you telling me?

    --

    ...A no smoking section in a restaurant is like having a no peeing section in a swimming pool...
  22. Crocodiles do as well by WinstonWolfIT · · Score: 1

    Hullooo, zeeba neighba!

  23. Learning Opportunity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Whose turn is it to alert Japan so they can kill more whales to investigate this?

  24. Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Orcas, Dolphins, and Whales.

    Oh My

  25. Uh Killer Whales are Dolphins. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Last time I checked killer whales aren't actually whales. I want the last five minutes back.

  26. I speak whale! by jd2112 · · Score: 1

    Are they sure it was dolphins speaking whale and not a blue tang that sounds like Ellen Degeneress?

    --
    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  27. Most likely use of cross-race communication by idontgno · · Score: 4, Funny

    Pickup lines by male Orcas.

    "Hey, Baby, you've heard about Orcas, right? We're whales, Honey, and I do mean that in every way. Yeah. Once you've gone black and white, you never go back. And white."

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  28. pedant here by shadowrat · · Score: 1

    I'm probably late with this post, but orcas are the largest dolphin. This news really is big dolphins imitate little dolphins. I've also heard of large apes imitating the hand communication of some smaller apes.

  29. What's it like being a dolphin? by bestweasel · · Score: 1

    Reminds me of a cartoon I saw: 2 dolphins swimming along & one says to the other, "Don't look now but here come those ghastly dolphin-friendly tuna". I wonder how much they can have to say and how intelligent they can be, given their environment. "Hi, what are you up to?" "Oh just swimming, you know. You?" "Yeah, swimming. Where's Derek?" "Swimming." "Doing anything this weekend." "Swimming." "How's the kids' new school working out?" "Swimmingly." "Have you eaten?" "I've just had a herring and wrack salad, thanks." "Ah. Fancy a swim?" "OK."

    1. Re:What's it like being a dolphin? by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 1
      Clearly you have no idea what it's like to be a dolphin.

      Apparently they're even more randy than Bonobos!

      So the conversation would be more
      • sex
      • swiming
      • sex
      • sex
      • sex
      • sex while swimming
      • sex while eating
      • swiming
      • sex
      --
      Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
  30. Uhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Orcas are dolphins, not whales.

  31. Parrots Caught on tape by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

    Parrots caught on tape speaking 'doorbell.'

    Because the doorbell was near the parrot's cage and it 'learned' to make that sound.

    This is similar. Why do people treat it as so remarkable?

    1. Re:Parrots Caught on tape by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      This is similar. Why do people treat it as so remarkable?

      Agreed. It would be shocking if tuna learned to speak dolphin. When an animal of a type already believed to have language skills demonstrates them, or simply appears to do so, we should not be surprised. By the same token, if a bird of a species which is not considered to be song-learning were to learn to imitate the doorbell, however, we might take notice.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Parrots Caught on tape by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Parrots caught on tape speaking 'doorbell.'
      > Because the doorbell was near the parrot's cage and it 'learned' to make that sound.
      > This is similar. Why do people treat it as so remarkable?

      My son imitates sounds of an English song on TV, just like a parrot. We don't speak English. Well, as you can see, I do, but I mean it's not our native language.

      Is it remarkable? He imitates because he's near the TV; a parrot would do it, too.

      I invite you to reflect on what is intelligence and how it's made of simpler capabilities, which -- put together -- create complex behaviors. We don't know what these orcas are trying to do... it's certainly amazing, though, that they can interact with dolphins without our mediation.

  32. They are conspiring by koan · · Score: 1

    To overthrow us.

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
  33. Dogs do too... by pubwvj · · Score: 1

    I have dogs that speak pig words and human words. We have a large pack of livestock working dogs that do guarding and herding on our pastured pig farm. The dogs have learned some of the sounds the pigs make to drive the pigs when herding. This makes them more effective at doing their job. They also know and use some human words both with us and with each other. We also use whistles, clicks and hand signs to communicate. There is a lot more interspecies communications going on than scientists realize in their limited ivory tower view of the world. It is mildly amusing when they "discover" reality. Those of us out working in the real world have known many of these things for millennia.

    1. Re:Dogs do too... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Those of us out working in the real world have known many of these things for millennia.

      That's amazing, you write in such a modern style.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Dogs do too... by pubwvj · · Score: 1

      What is interesting is that you think "us" has to mean an individual - a very limited view of language.

    3. Re:Dogs do too... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      What is interesting is that you think "us" has to mean an individual - a very limited view of language.

      No, and that is a very limited interpretation of my response. I think that "those of us" applies to a subgroup.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  34. Orcas are not whales by jma42 · · Score: 0

    Although orcas are called "killer whales", they're actually dolphins. See http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/articles/killer-whale-facts/

    --
    OKsofar
  35. Captive Orcas by SumDog · · Score: 1

    I wish more people were bothered by the fact that they are doing experiments at all on captive Orcas and Dolphins.

    Most captive Orcas aren't in facilities because they've been injured (unlike zoos and aquariums which work on rehabilitation and reintroduction). Orcas are often ripped away from their pods. Many of them get violent and kill trainers (and rightfully so). You can't put something that travels the ocean in a fish tank. Orcas only live to be about 25 in captivity where in the while, they live to be 50 ~ 60.

    The documentary Black Fish talks a lot about the problems with captive Orcas. You should never go to Seaworld or other sea parks. Don't give them any money. They are shit shops that destroy these beautiful animals.

  36. Whale Rasist Tendencies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those Orca betrayer Dophin-lovers speak like ugly, little cetaceans. As if they would belong some disgusting Delphinidae family instead of our proud Orcas!

  37. Oh boy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Great White Supremacist Sharks are not going to like this one bit.

  38. Orcas are actually Oceanic Dolphins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Orcas are not whales. So there are no "Whales imitating Dolphins" here - the Orcas ("Killer Whales") are technically considered Oceanic Dolphins - in fact, the largest member of the Delphinidae family. Poor Orcas dolphins must be saying "Hey we are in the same family! I just have a different accent...".

  39. Now, seriously... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can't we use one of those real-time translating technologies to try to keep a conversation with them? We have no other species (besides some birds like parrots, that is) with which to maintain a conversation (chimps cannot talk). That would be kinda great... unless they start to beg for Freedom... :-/

    Even those toys used for "translating" dog language might help, if only for a few fixed dialogs...

    PS: I know such technologies are not that good for human languages, but still we should be trying it IMHO.

  40. Killer Whales are mis-named by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember a documentary saying that killer-whales are not really whales but are dolphins that are whale-killers

  41. What do you call by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What do you call an Orca that speaks two languages?
    A bilingual Orca.

    What do you call an Orca that speaks three languages?
    A trilingual Orca.

    What do you call an Orca that speaks one language?
    An American Orca.

    Sorry, had to.

  42. Talking dog for sale by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale."
    He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there.
    "You talk?" he asks.
    "Sure do." the dog replies.
    "So, what's your story?" The dog looks up and says, "Well, I discovered my gift of talking pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running."
    "The jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a batch of medals."
    "Had a wife, a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."
    The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.
    The owner says, "Ten dollars."
    The guy says, "This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"
    "Cause he's a bullshitter. He's never left the yard!"

  43. Speak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come to me my darling! GULP!

  44. Captive orcas by RockDoctor · · Score: 1
    Disgusting.

    You'll never catch me going through the doors of one of those revolting places. They should be shut down and the captive animals rehabilitated and returned to the wild. The ones which were captive-born are a more difficult problem, and may need to be released into a constrained area (a fjord with a netted sea connection. perhaps) for an extended period of rehabilitation and time to form a stable pod and learn their natural environment.

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"