Table Of ContentDEEP T HINKERS
DE E P T H I N K E R S
Inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises
Edited by JANET MANN
CAMILLA BUTTI
HEIDI E. HARLEY
PATRICK HOF
VINCENT JANIK
ERIC PATTERSON
ANDREW READ
LUKE RENDELL
LAELA SAYIGH
HAL WHITEHEAD
The University of Chicago Press
Chicago
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
© 2017 Quarto Publishing plc
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in
the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews.
For more information, contact the University of Chicago Press,
1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637.
Published 2017
26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-38747-5 (cloth)
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-38750-5 (e-book)
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226387505.001.0001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Mann, Janet, editor.
Title: Deep thinkers : inside the minds of whales, dolphins,
and porpoises / edited by Janet Mann.
Description: Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2017.
| Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017013377 | ISBN 9780226387475
(cloth : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780226387505 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Cetacea—Psychology. | Cetacea—Behavior.
| Animal intelligence. | Cognition in animals.
| Animal communication.
Classification: LCC QL737.C4 D398 2017 | DDC 599.515/13—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017013377
This book was conceived, designed, and produced by
Ivy Press
58 West Street, Brighton BN1 2RA, United Kingdom
Publisher Susan Kelly
Creative Director Michael Whitehead
Editorial Director Tom Kitch
Art Directors Wayne Blades and Kevin Knight
Commissioning Editor Kate Shanahan
Senior Editor Stephanie Evans
Project Editor Fleur Jones
Designer Simon Goggin
Illustrators John Woodcock and Richard Peters
Picture Researcher Alison Stevens
Front cover image Bryant Austin
Printed in China
CONTENTS
8 INTRODUCTION 92 CHAPTER 5
Janet Mann QUINTESSENTIALLY SOCIAL
CETACEANS
12 CHAPTER 1 Janet Mann
BENEATH THE SURFACE Social bonds bind cetaceans throughout their
Janet Mann & Andrew Read lifetimes. Long-term studies have been crucial
How and why do we study cetaceans? This in revealing remarkably complex communities
chapter looks at the history of human association in which relationships are based on affiliation,
with cetaceans from whaling to research and aggression, kinship, communal care, protection,
monitoring in the wild and in captivity and the mating strategies, and extended networks.
challenges ahead.
122 CHAPTER 6
24 CHAPTER 2 DEEP CULTURE
THE CETACEAN BRAIN Hal Whitehead & Luke Rendell
Camilla Butt i & Patrick Hof We may assume culture to be a uniquely human
By studying mammals’ brains and comparing condition, but cetaceans display considerable
those of odontocetes and mysticetes scientists cultural diversity. This chapter assesses behavior,
demonstate that, in terms of intelligence, size isn’t communication, social dynamics, migration,
everything. This chapter considers the relationship cooperative hunting, and learned foraging techniques.
between brain and body mass and how scientists
determine what it means to have a big brain. 1 44 CHAPTER 7
CETACEAN TOOL USE
36 CHAPTER 3 Eric Patt erson & Janet Mann
COGNITION Like primates and birds, cetaceans use tools for
Heidi E. Harley different tasks and different reasons: sticks, shells,
Humans make sense of their surroundings primarily and sponges become tools for attraction, display,
by sight, a perspective that can skew understanding and foraging purposes.
of cetacean cognition. This chapter adopts the
cetacean perception of their aquatic world—using 1 60 CHAPTER 8
multiple senses, including sound and echolocation. US & THEM
Andrew Read
66 CHAPTER 4 From our fi rst encounters with whales as game
CETACEAN COMMUNICATION to att empts to save species from extinction, this
Laela Sayigh & Vincent Janik chapter looks at how humans and cetaceans
How do cetaceans communicate through water? coexist. Hunting, fishing, pollution, and sonic
Studies of whale song and dolphin whistles disturbance are among the threats whales and
demonstrate the types of communication and dolphins face from human activity.
consider call function, social recognition, and
communication networks. 186 GLOSSARY
188 RESOURCES & NOTES
ON CONTRIBUTORS
190 INDEX & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
Janet Mann
Few species delight humans more than cetaceans, with their massive size, acrobatic ability,
social nature, and intelligence. Anyone who has been on a boat and seen a wild whale, dolphin,
or porpoise remembers this experience for eternity, even if he or she knows little about them
or even which species was spotted. Until quite recently, most of what we knew about cetaceans
came from whaling, fisheries, or captivity. None of these circumstances were natural and all
were focused on how cetaceans served humans (for food, oil, or entertainment), not on the
animals themselves. However, the species we exploited so heavily for centuries now command
our attention and respect for their extraordinary intelligence and evolutionary significance.
Since the 1960s, dolphins, whales, and porpoises WHAT ARE CETACEANS?
have gained increasing legal protections from hunting, Modern-day cetaceans are impressive products of
incidental takes (for example, netting a dolphin during millions of years of evolution. Having undergone massive
fishing operations), and intentional captures for aquarium transitions since an ungulate-like (hooved) ancestor moved
display. In 1972, the US Congress passed the Marine into the seas some 50 million years ago, cetaceans are an
Mammal Protection Act, which established a moratorium exemplary illustration of evolution at a grand scale and
on taking and importing marine mammals, albeit with extreme adaptation. They also provide intriguing cases
some exceptions—such as aboriginal hunting. At the same for convergent evolution—where a trait has evolved more
time, wildlife biologists and comparative psychologists than once to serve similar adaptive functions (like blubber
initiated studies of wild and captive cetaceans, with some in cetaceans and seals as both fat stores and insulation).
long-term studies lasting more than 30 years. Scientists All cetaceans evolved critical adaptations to their
have contributed enormously to our understanding of marine environment. A marked increase in size let
these magnificent mammals. This work has revealed cetaceans reduce heat loss and maintain body temperature.
the intricacy and longevity of their social bonds, their The nose became a blowhole that migrated to the top of
elaborate networks and social structures, their resilient the head for easy breathing at the surface. For efficient
and ephemeral cultures, their complex foraging tactics, movement in water, a number of physiological changes
and their impressive cognitive skills. Importantly, this occurred including hair loss and replacing forelimbs with
work also placed cetaceans in a comparative framework pectoral fins for steering and hind limbs with a robust tail
with other marine and terrestrial animals. and flukes for propulsion. The pelvis became detached from
Our understanding of cetaceans has advanced the vertebrae to facilitate movement. Cetacean blood and
considerably in the last 50 years and continues to muscle is specially designed to retain oxygen through
change as we debate whether these highly intelligent a high volume of blood, concentrated hemoglobin and
animals should be in captivity at all, or should be myoglobin, and larger lungs, which can collapse when
afforded “rights” as sentient beings. Occasionally the diving to avoid gas bubbles in the blood (decompression
popular press highlights an exciting research finding, sickness or “the bends”). Cetacean eyes have anatomical
but until now no book has covered the state-of-the-art and molecular adaptations to the light limitations of the
scientific discoveries across cetacean species. To this aquatic environment, including a highly spherical lens and
end, some of the world’s authorities on cetacean corneal design that allows for acute vision in both air and
n biology and behavior were invited to contribute to water. Their bones are dense—including the ear bones,
o
ti this book in their areas of expertise. Each chapter which aid in underwater hearing. Cetaceans lost outer
c
du focuses on a key theme, concept, or problem. Deep ears in favor of a streamlined physique, but they have fat
o
r Thinkers is dedicated to highlighting some of the pads in their jaws to aid in hearing. Because cetaceans
t
n
I extraordinary features of cetaceans that have nurse underwater, they can curl their tongues to enable
8 entranced scientists and nonscientists alike. nursing from inside the mammary slit.
Introduction 9
