Ethology

Cetaceans are, among mammals, the most difficult to study from a behavioral point of view, because they spend most of their existence under the surface of the water, re-emerging only during the respiratory act.
The efforts of the researchers, who devote much of their time to the study of these animals, allow us to gradually understand many of cetaceans secrets and to become part, in a discreet way, of their fantastic world. Naturalists and biologists, through the use of hydrophones, satellite transmitters, but above all spending many hours at sea observing whales and dolphins, are able to study and interpret some of their behaviors.

The groups

At the base of the ethological study there is the analysis of social bonds within groups. Members of the same clan cooperate in carrying out activities such as fishing, defense, attack and protection of the weakest individuals. Individuals within the groups may have pre-established roles, some dolphins for example play the role of informants by exploring new areas and signaling the presence of dangers. The most lasting bond is the mother-baby one, but the bond between two male individuals who have reached reproductive age is also very stable. The Odontocetes organize themselves in matriarchal groups in which the females, often of one or two generations, remain with the oldest dolphin. Within the groups of females there are the young of both sexes and the sub-adult females. Sub-adult males, on the other hand, tend to form small autonomous groups. On the other hand, males of reproductive age move independently.

The comunication

The great sociality of the Cetaceans implies an equally strong communicative capacity which is manifested above all in the Odontocetes.
These are in fact capable of producing a wide range of sound signals ranging from 500 to 25,000 cycles per second. The sounds, produced in the region of the nasal sacs, can be divided into 2 categories: the whistles with modulated frequency and BPS (Burst Pulsed Sounds), composed of a continuous and fast series of sounds, and both used in communication, different from clicks used for the biosonar.
Each species has typical vocalizations. In addition to being used for the fundamental function of communication (whistles), sounds manifest emotions and moods (BPS), the sounds give definitive proof of the existence of a social language, each sound signal corresponds to a precise response, both in terms of vocalizations and of shares.
Dolphins are able to produce typical and unique “signature whistles” for each individual specimen, allowing them to call themselves by name and to recognize each other.
Species of cetaceans such as the Killer whales are even able to develop a very particular and typical 'dialect' of the group that allows the specimens of the same community to communicate correctly with each other and to recognize the 'invading' individuals who are unable to speak 'the language of the place'.

The play

Among the most spectacular surface activities we find jumps, twists, water slaps, these behaviors are often difficult to interpret; perhaps they are dictated by dietary needs, by reproductive needs or are demonstrations of strength but often they are simply exuberant games or a nice way to show us humans their energy and vitality.

Among the most common behaviors we have: breaching (jumping into the air falling back into the water with a dive), lobtailing (slapping of the water with the caudal fin), Spy-hopping (vertical emergence with the head out of the water for " take a look "), Wake riding and Bow riding (swimming respectively in the wake of ships and on the bow waves of boats).

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