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Animal communication

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A starling bird perched in San Francisco, California.

How Animals Talk to Each Other

Animals have many ways to share ideas and feelings with each other. They do this to find friends, get food, or stay safe. Let’s learn about some of the fun ways animals “talk”!

Making Sounds

Many animals use sounds to share messages. Frogs croak to find mates or warn others of danger. Humpback whales sing long, beautiful songs, sometimes for hours! Even tiny crickets make chirping sounds by rubbing their legs together. These sounds help animals talk without using words.

Using Bodies and Colors

Animals also use their bodies to send messages. Chimps use hand gestures, just like people. Some animals can change colors! Cuttlefish can flash bright colors to find a friend or hide from danger. Birds like Blue and Yellow Macaws show happy faces with their expressions. Movements and colors help animals “talk” without making a sound.

Smells and Signals

Smells are another way animals share information. Wolves mark their territory with scent during the breeding season. Fish like Atlantic salmon can smell when someone in their group is hurt and will help. Smells can tell other animals where they live or if they are friends.

Special Skills

Some animals have amazing skills to “talk.” Bats use echolocation, making sounds to find their way in the dark. Weakly electric fishes make tiny electric signals to share who they are with other fish. These special ways help animals share messages in ways we can’t even see!

Animals use these many ways to stay connected, find food, and keep their families safe. Learning about animal communication helps us understand how wonderful and clever the animal world is.

Images

A tiger showing a Flehmen response, a natural behavior where it inhales scents through its mouth and nose.
A curious lamb sniffs a rabbit in a green field in Perthshire, Scotland.
A curious little dog watching a cat sitting on a table, illustrated from a historical photograph.
Illustration of a dog showing an affectionate expression from Charles Darwin's study on emotions.
A friendly dog showing affection to its owner, illustrating positive animal behavior.
A black-tailed prairie dog resting in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
A curious dog pressing a yellow doorbell button.
Anatomy diagram showing the location of pit organs in a python and a rattlesnake, useful for learning about snake senses.
A deep-sea fish called a humpback anglerfish, known for its unique shape and bioluminescent lure.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Animal communication, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.