Communication can fall beneath both learned and innate behaviour categories. Within communication itself, there are also numerous sub categories, which are chemical, visual, sounds and tactile. Communication is the transfer of information from one individual to another, and usually occurs between members of the same species – often associated with reproductive behaviour and social interaction.
Chemical Communication
Chemical communication is the release of chemicals into the environment, which transmit information to animals with appropriate receptors to receive the signal. It is often considered the most primitive and universally used form of communication. Pheromones are the chemicals that carry messages between individuals of the same species. Both bees and ants regularly leave
chemical trails to help direct other members of the
group to a food source or back to the hive/ant hole. Household dogs display territorial behaviour through marking territory with urine- however this additionally acts as chemical communication to warn away other dogs. Chemical signals can also be a warning to danger.
Visual Signals
Visual signals have the advantage of being instantaneous and highly directional (meaning the sender can be identified) however the disadvantage is that they often cannot be used in the dark, nor from a large distance. For this reason very few species rely solely on just visual signals. Katydids among various other species of insects have alarming colours that can be exposed in response to danger. The colours suggest a bad or poisonous taste and thus prevent predators from consuming them. Visual signals can also display emotions such as how humans smile and wave to show happiness and may frown and slouch to show sadness. Similarly, dogs bow down whilst wagging their tail when playful but raise ears and bare teeth to display anger. These signals work well to communicate between the species but also portray messages to other species.
Tactile Communication
Tactile communication generally contains simple messages and is without the requirement of specialized sensory organs. It is found often in highly social groups to reinforce social hierarchy such as grooming in primates or physical challenges such as in dolphins. It cannot however occur from a distance, which along with only portraying simple messages is the downfall of this type of communication.
COMMUNICATION
"From a young age humans use tactile communication for variety of reasons. Tuggng a mother's skirt or poking to get attention, hugging and kissing to show affection and patting to show gratitude or as a congratulation."
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