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It turns out Flipper may be a dolphins name after all. Or, maybe not.
New research says bottlenose dolphins identify each other with whistles and other sounds.
Scientists recorded and then played the sounds underwater. When the dolphins heard their particular sound they responded by whistling back.
Researchers say that means the dolphins are answering to their own names.
The BBC reports biologists said the mammals "live in an environment where they need a very efficient system to stay in touch."
And it makes sense that sound would be the way to accomplish that task. “Most of the time they can't see each other, they can't use smell underwater, and they also don't tend to hang out in one spot."
No other animal seems to have similar behavior the study says.
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