Animal Communication
Communication takes many forms Communication —when we're talking about animal behavior—can be any process where information is passed from one animal to another causing a change or response in the receiving animal. [Can communication happen by accident?] Communication most often happens between members of a species, though it can also take place between different species. For instance, your dog may bark at you to ask for a treat! Some species are very social, living in groups and interacting all the time; communication is essential for keeping these groups cohesive and organized. However, even animals that are relative loners usually have to communicate at least a little, if only to find a mate. What forms can communication behaviors take? Well, animal sensory systems vary quite a great deal. For instance, a dog's sense of smell is 40 times more acute than ours! ^2 2 start superscript, 2, end superscript Because of this sensory diversity, different ani...