News Animals

Bottlenose dolphin moms use baby talk with their calves

Mothers modify their signature whistles when their babies are near

photo of a bottlenose dolphin mom and calf

Bottlenose dolphin moms modify their individually distinctive whistles when their calves are near, a new study suggests.

Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Photo taken under NMFS MMPA Permit No. 20455

By McKenzie Prillaman

When speaking to young kids, humans often use squeaky, high-pitched baby talk. It turns out that some dolphins do, too.

Bottlenose dolphin moms modify their individually distinctive whistles when their babies are nearby, researchers report June 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.