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1.5.3Animal Noises and Signals
Why did animals evolve the use of sound in the first place?
As a signalling device for warning and for mate-attraction.
To be a successful adaptation, the animal noise must not only benefit the individual(s) being signalled; it must also benefit the signaller (selfish genes at work).
- A noise may signal a threat that warns a competitor to back off, or face a potentially injurious (or lethal) fight.
- A noise may signal a warning that advises close kin (carrying the signaller’s genes) of a nearby predator.
- A noise may be simply a contact signal that keeps a group together; safety in numbers.
- A courtship signal in humans takes the form of a display of musical ability, signalling mental fitness.