Animal Communication

Basic components:

basic components

Signaler: An individual which emits signal.

Receiver: An individual which receives signal

Signal: The behavior emitted by the signaler

angler fish

Pheromones - chemicals

1) A pheromone is a secreted chemical signal used to trigger a response in another individual of the same species.

2) Pheromones are especially common among social insects, such as ants and bees.

3) Pheromones may attract the opposite sex, raise an alarm, mark a food trail, or trigger other, more complex behaviors.

4) Chemical communication is the most primitive type of communication.

1

Auditory cues — sounds

• Auditory communication — communication based on sound — is widely used in the animal kingdom.

2

Visual cues

• Visual communication involves signals that can be seen. Examples of these signals include gestures, facial expressions, body postures, and coloration.

3

Tactile cues-touch

• Tactile signals are more limited in range than the other types of signals, as two organisms must be right next to each other in order to touch. Still, these signals are an important part of the communication of many species.

4

Electrical

It is a means of communication in some fishes. For example, Torpedo (Electric ray), and sharks have electro receptors that they use in communication. Sharks detect the electric field produced by prey flatfish that are buried in the sand by a specialized organ. Electric fish communicate information about species identity and sex by discharging electric field.

5

Surface vibrations

In some animals information may be communicated by patterns of surface vibrations. For example water spider send out ripples of certain frequency and receptive female respond by moving towards the source. Cannibalistic male spiders vibrate threads of web of his prospective partner communicating that it is not a prey.

6

• Many animals have elaborate communication behaviors surrounding mating, which may involve attracting a mate or competing with other potential suitors for access to mates

Obtaining mates

• In many species, communication behaviors are important in establishing dominance in a social hierarchy or defending territory.

Establishing dominance or defending territory

• In social species, communication is key in coordinating the activities of the group, such as food acquisition and defense, and in maintaining group cohesion

Coordinating group behaviors

• Among species that provide parental care to offspring, communication coordinates parent and offspring behaviors to help ensure that the offspring will survive.

Caring for young