Auditory communication is the sound an animal makes. The sound may be one that comes from the animal or it may by a sound the animal makes when it interacts with an object.
Pump Up the Volume
 Male American alligators use a combinations of sounds and displays to get the attention of females when they want to mate. They roar, slap their heads against the water, and then they tap the nose of the female, nudge her, and shove up against her.
Sound Reasons
 Some animals have different vocalizations for different occasions. Coyotes are one of the noisiest animals in North America. They use a series of barks, yips, and howls to mark territory, and to let other coyotes know where they are. |
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Were You Invited?
 Lots of animals vocalize when an intruder comes too close to or invades their territory. You have probably heard a dog start barking when someone comes close to its house. Red squirrels make a series of loud rattles, screeches, and yips to warn off intruders.
Talk to the Animals
 The bottlenose dolphin has a wide range of vocalizations. Some scientists think they have a language and are working to see if humans can communicate with dolphins. Each dolphin also has its own unique whistling sound that it uses to identify itself. Dolphins use sound or echolocation to locate food. They have sacs in their foreheads that they use to make clicking sounds. The sounds travel through the water and when they hit something, bounce back to the dolphin. |
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