Elephants use distinctive low-frequency rumbles and unique frequency-modulated calls that function as individual "names" to address and identify specific members within their family or clan, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
These vocalizations carry various messages beyond names, including identity, age, sex, emotional state, and behavioral context, without relying on imitation or visual cues.
Elephants respond more strongly to calls identified as specific to them, suggesting a form of individual recognition.
The discovery of elephant naming could help understand the origins of language, as vocal production learning is a critical prerequisite for language.
It also raises questions about the complexity of elephant social cognition, cognitive processes, and the evolution of language, potentially changing our understanding of animal communication and cognition.
The discovery was described as "really exciting" by researchers.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
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