Auditory & Tactile Communication

1. Auditory & Tactile Communication

2. Pump up the volume • Male American alligators use a combinations of sounds and displays to get the attention of females when they want to mate. They roar, slap their heads against the water and then tap the nose of the female, nudge her and shove up against her.

3. Sound Reasons • Some animals have different vocalizations for different occasions. Coyotes are one of the noisiest animals in North America. They use a series of barks, yips and howls to mark territory, and to let other coyotes know where they are. When a loon is defending its territory it will run across the water, flap its wings and use a vocalization called a tremolo.

4. Were you invited? • Lots of animals will vocalize when an intruder comes too close to or invades their territory. You have probably heard a dog start barking when someone comes close to their house. Red squirrels will make a series of loud rattles, screeches and yips to warn off intruders.

5. Talk to the animals • The bottlenose dolphin has a wide range of vocalizations. Some scientists think they have a language and are working to see if humans can communicate with dolphins. Each dolphin also has its own unique whistling sound that it uses to identify itself.

6. Echolocation • Dolphins use sound or echolocationto locate food. They have sacs in their foreheads that they use to make clicking sounds. The sounds travel through the water and when they hit something, bounce back to the dolphin.

7. Tactile Communication • Tactile communication, or touch, is an important form of communication for many animals. Mother tigers lick and nuzzle their babies, chimpanzees groom each other, and bear cubs wrestle with each other. Touch is used to comfort, to establish dominance and to establish bonds.

8. Monkeying around • Touch is very important in many primate species. Primates are social animals. They live in large groups. Touch helps the group form bonds and stay peaceful!  Primates often groom each other. Female primates often hold and frequently cuddle and comfort their young.

9. Getting to “nose” you • Sea otters are playful animals. They use touch to establish social bonds and to scent mark. Otters often rub their faces together and touch noses. The sea otter may even touch noses with other animals like seals and sea lions!