Deep thinkers : inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises / edited by Janet Mann [and 9 others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Mann, Janet, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cetacea--Psychology.

Cetacea.

Cetacea--Behavior.

Animal intelligence.

Cognition in animals.

Animal communication.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (193 pages) : illustrations (some color), photographs

Place of Publication:

Chicago, Illinois : The Unviersity of Chicago Press, 2017.

Summary:

Humans aside, dolphins, whales, and porpoises are often considered to be the smartest creatures on Earth. Science and nature buffs are drawn to stories of their use of tools, their self-recognition, their beautiful and complex songs, and their intricate societies. But how do we know what we know, and what does it mean? In Deep Thinkers, renowned cetacean biologist Janet Mann gathers a gam of the world’s leading whale and dolphin researchers—including Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, and many more—to illuminate these vital questions, exploring the astounding capacities of cetacean brains. Diving into our current understanding of and dynamic research on dolphin and whale cognition, communication, and culture, Deep Thinkers reveals how incredibly sophisticated these mammals are—and how much we can learn about other animal minds by studying cetacean behavior. Through a combination of fascinating text and more than 150 beautiful and informative illustrations, chapters compare the intelligence markers of cetaceans with those of birds, bats, and primates, asking how we might properly define intelligence in nonhumans. As all-encompassing and profound as the seas in which these deep cetacean cultures have evolved, Deep Thinkers is an awesome and inspiring journey into the fathoms—a reminder of what we gain through their close study, and of what we lose when the great minds of the sea disappear.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

2. THE CETACEAN

3. COGNITION

4. CETACEAN COMMUNICATION

5. QUINTESSENTIALLY SOCIAL CETACEANS

6. DEEP CULTURE

7. CETACEAN TOOL USE

US & THEM

GLOSSARY

RESOURCES

INDEX

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780226387475

9780226387505

022638750X

OCLC:

1229161153