Can different species of animals communicate with each other?

Answer 1

It depends how you define communication. A rattlesnake's rattle is pretty much universally understood. My dog and cat used to play together all the time and they were never confused about the rules.

Answer 2

Of course they can. Most of human communication occurs on a non-verbal level anyway.
Animals have been well-documented to have a good understanding of other species.

For example, in India, the peacock has a call which means danger (the tiger). Prey animals such as the monkeys and deer know this call and flee for cover when they hear it.

The honey badger and the honeyguide bird is another example. The honeyguide bird does a special dance and makes a special call which the honey badger means, "Follow me. I have found a beehive".

Cleaning fish and shrimp know when predatory animals are not going to eat them and instead want a cleaning. These fish normally cruise along very slowly with the mouths and gill flaps open. During other times, they to stay clear of these predatory fish.

Most examples of animal communication shows them interacting with members of their own species but there are definite examples of them showing an understanding of each other's presence and abilities that goes beyond symbiosis.

Answer 3

Obviously, but perhaps not on the same level. Have you ever had a cat or dog you told no to and it would listen? Cross species communication. Did you know they can teach gorillas sign language...cross species communication again. Now as to cats and dogs being able to hold long drawn out conversations about the meaning of life?? That is not know but seems unlikely from the viewpoint of us humans which seem to think we are the smartest... And why not..... we invented toaster strudels.

Answer 4

I say yes. Through body language, vocalizations, bright colors.

Animals can, in a way, even communicate with us through the same methods. My horse knows when I'm frustrated or rushing to get something done or when he's fixing to get in trouble, and I know he knows that because I can see it represented in his body language and often by his vocalizations.

I think some animals are not as obvious to us as being able to read other species (i.e. our pet fish and our cat), but in places that are populated with a huge variety of species, I think some measure of interspecies communication has to exist, whether it be 'simple' in human terms or not.

Lots of animals try to make themselves appear bigger when they are frightened. It's their way of telling the other that he's big and bad. There's even a little tiny cuddlefish (could fit in the palm of your hand) that literally walks on the ocean floor like he just owns it. When something gets too close to him, he displays a marvel of bright colors and parades himself to the predator absolutely fearlessly. The other ocean creatures know he means it too; they won't touch him. Turns out that scientists have shown him to be poisionous.

Answer 5

Yes they can to a certain extent. For instance, if a bird is perched in a tree and sees a cat, it will start vocalizing a distress or "danger" call.

The squirrels and chipmunks have become alert to that bird call and they too will become very vigilant in alerting others of the danger.

I believe that would qualify for "communication."

Answer 6

ofcourse they can ,
animals have body language ,this is very exstensive and says much more that you could posibly imagine ,and it works between all species,us included

animals are very perseptive about this

but they also know what neighbouring animals sounds mean

Answer 7

Sure, in rudimentary ways. One example is Koko the gorilla who can speak sign language.

Answer 8

now what you wanna get is a gun. once you shows those animals whos boss theyll stop talkin to ya.

Answer 9

i can communicate with my dog

Answer 10

you must have asked it to the animals and not to us....humans