Dolphin Mysteries: Unlocking the Secrets of Communication - Hardcover

Dudzinski, Kathleen M.; Frohoff, Toni

3.82

45 ratings by Goodreads

9780300121124: Dolphin Mysteries: Unlocking the Secrets of Communication

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300121121 ISBN 13: 9780300121124

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2008

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Dolphins have fascinated humans for millennia, giving rise to an abundance of stories and myths about them, yet the actual details of their lives in the sea have remained elusive. In this enthralling book, Kathleen M. Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff take us into the dolphins’ aquatic world to witness firsthand how they live their lives, communicate, and interact with one another and with other species, including people.

Kathleen M. Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff are scientists who have collectively dedicated more than 40 years to studying dolphins beneath the ocean’s surface, frequently through a close-up underwater lens. Drawing on their own experiences and on up-to-the-minute research, the authors show that dolphins are decidedly not just members of a group but distinct individuals, able to communicate with one another and with humans. Dudzinski and Frohoff introduce a new way of looking at, and listening to, the vocabulary of dolphins in the sea, and they even provide an introductory “dolphin dictionary,” listing complex social signals that dolphins use to share information among themselves and with people. Unveiling an intimate and scientifically accurate portrait of dolphins, this book will appeal to everyone who has wanted a closer glimpse into the hearts and minds of these amazing creatures.

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Book Description:

This enthralling book takes us into the dolphins’ world beneath the sea to discover details of their lives, their methods of communication, and how they interact with one another and with humans. Drawing on decades of firsthand research, the authors unveil one of the most intimate and scientifically accurate portraits of dolphins to date.

From the Author:

A conversation with Kathleen Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff:

Q: What inspired both of you to make the study of dolphins your life’s work?

Toni: It was the mind of the dolphin that intrigued me the most. I wanted to know how these amazingly intelligent animals communicated with each other and with us. But it is the heart of the dolphin that motivates me to return to the sea for more. By understanding dolphins as individuals, I’ve observed a diverse and rich complex of emotions that is belied by their permanent smiles.” I am therefore inspired to learn how to better protect these smart and passionate mammals.

Kathleen: I have always loved science, the ocean, and animals. A college internship studying dolphins and whales showed me that I could merge these three passions, and so I jumped at the opportunity to pursue research on dolphin social behavior.

Q: Are there specific challenges you confront in observing dolphins, and what are they?

A: When we observe wild dolphins, the first challenge is finding them. The ocean is vast with many places to hide. Observing dolphins noninvasively is another challenge, especially when so many individuals are so very inquisitive of us underwater. Having the correct tools to document their behavior and vocalizations has been yet another challenge. But new technologies are helping in this respect. The biggest challenge of all is just spending time underwater: we can only visit their aquatic world for short bursts.

Q: What is unique about the way that dolphins communicate?

A: Their bells and whistles and their use of sonar are truly impressive. Most fascinating is that dolphins use touch and behaviors such as jaw clapping as forms of communication.

Q: What do you hope readers will learn from reading Dolphin Mysteries?

A: We hope readers will enjoy the journey we’ve experienced in studying these magnificent creatures and gain a better understanding of the unique requirements of dolphins and their ocean home. We have to strive for better protection of the world’s marine ecosystems and the animals in them. Also, dolphins deserve to be recognized and protected as individuals as well as in populations.

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