Non-verbal communication of sharks:

Great White Sharks were killed with the encounter with an orca(killer whale).

The sharks vanished from the area during feeding season. The smell of another dead shark causes a panic attack in the other sharks. It could be speculated that the sharks sensed the scent of the dead shark as a signal to avoid their predators.

 

Interesting ways that animals communicate with one another:

Tarsiers
Uses ultrasound to communicate. These animals make vocalizations at 70,000 Hertz and can hear sounds of up to 90,000 Hertz. Researchers think that these calls could help tarsiers communicate over the background noise of the jungle and avoid predators.

• Coming up with a communication channel that only species of the same kind can understand (Cryptic messaging)

 

Prairie Dogs
Use different calls for different predators and also the characteristics of the subject.

 

African Demon Mole Rat
Under the ground, there is not enough light and sound waves do not travel very far through dirt. In order to communicate to their neighbours and protect their territories, these solitary mole rats use seismic communication by thumping their heads against the tops of their tunnels, sending vibrations that travel farther.

• Using vibrations to communicate information in places where sight and sound is hindered.

 

Caribbean Reef Squid
Uses specialized cells that contain pigments and light reflecting molecules called chromatophores that change the color of their skin to send different messages. Usually squids and octopuses use this color changing ability for camouflaging when danger is present or to attract mates. These squids have a different lifestyle than most other cephalopods. They are social creatures living in small groups throughout the Caribbean Sea. They have developed their ability to manipulate their chromatophores for lots of different communication purposes. Different colors, patterns and flashes send different messages. They can send one signal to a squid on their left side while sending a different signal to another on their right.

 

Coral Groupers
Communicates with other species of marine predators such as the This takes place when prey dive into cracks of the coral reefs where the groupers cannot reach. The groupers will wait for another fish such as Napoleon Wrasse or Moray Eel and use a kind of sign language to ask for their help in hunting down dinner. The grouper points its nose at the hidden fish and shake its body from side-to-side, signalling presence of prey. The other 2 species will either move into the reef or smash it to flush the prey out. This gives the grouper a second chance.

• Coming up with a specific coded message for this particular group and coming up with a different coded message for another group.

 

Animals have been sending information back and forth using vest networks of messages designed to defend against predators, acquire mates and obtain food. The ability to relay information determines the species very survival.

To ensure their own survival, animals rely on a vast array of communication methods, visual, chemical, vocal and gestures. How effective they communicate can determine their life and death.

 

Ants
They are evolutionary giants in terms of communication. Ants have no chain of command and display no visible signs of communication. Ants communicate via hydrocarbons(made up of carbons and hydrogens) as they perceive the world via smell. Hydrocarbons are found on the body on the ant. Hydrocarbons emit odour – transfer of information.

 

Bioluminescent Bacteria
The source of strange glow in the sea comes from bioluminescent bacteria, tiny organisms found in the sea. Research shows that these bacteria talk to each other. They exchange chemicals to communicate with one another, signalling presence and allowing them to do different things..

Bacteria often acts like the legislative body. To achieve anything important, they have to work as a group. They need a quorum. The presence of a critical number of individuals that emit molecules to each other called quorum sensing.

Why would a single cell bacterium that reproduces all by itself require to communicate?

They need to be able to carry out tasks that are too hard for the individual. Some bacteria communicate to find each other so that they can hunt together, while others communicate to launch collective attacks on bodies.

What are bioluminescent bacteria trying to communicate?

While many creatures use communication to avoid their predators, these bacteria are lighting up to attract fishes to eat them because they live inside the guts of other animals.

Sound is a powerful channel to communicate underwater. Marine animals uses all sorts of sounds to communicate such as clicks, chirps, croaks. Under the sea, light is in short supply, chemicals quickly dissipate. But for sound, water acts as the ultimate conductor. Sonic signals pass between the dense molecules of water like an electric current, travelling farther and 5x faster than on land. It weakens very little over long distances.