A team of psychologists and animal behaviorists from the University of Turin, the University of Oulu, and Zoomarine Italia, Torvaianica-Pomezia, has discovered that the unique arrangement of black dots on the predominantly white fronts of African penguins may serve as a means for them to distinguish one another.
In a study published in the journal Animal Behavior, the researchers conducted a simple experiment with a colony of African penguins residing in a marine park.
African penguins, native to the southern shores of Africa, are highly social creatures, prompting scientists to study their behavior as a potential precursor to more complex behaviors observed in primates.
For instance, a previous study revealed their ability to engage in vocal accommodation, where members of a group adopt a similar dialect when exposed to others.
In this new study, the researchers have found evidence suggesting that the distinct patterns of black dots on their otherwise white fronts enable the penguins to recognize each other.
2023-11-25 03:41:03
Post from phys.org