You guys! Remember yesterday, when we learned that dolphins and whales in Hawaii have twice been caught spontaneously playing together? Apparently, this gets better. Dolphins in a French aquarium seem to be "speaking" whale—making whale-sounding noises at night that mimic the actual whale noises they hear all day on the soundtrack to the aquarium dolphin show they perform in. These dolphins have never met real whales. But dolphins are known mimics and it seems that they're capable of practicing and improving on mimicked sounds hours after the sound has gone away. (Via Mindy Weisberger)

  • Bevatron Repairman

    It’s like the scene in The Forbin Project where Colossus starts talking to Guardian. We’re so screwed.

  • Mark Dow

    I listened to the two example vocalizations. They sound French to me.

    • Felton / Moderator

      Au revoir, et merci pour tous les poissons!

      • Stooge

        They love a nice bit of cod French.

      • Paul Renault

        Oh, I love any opportunity to be a pedant:

        Au revoir et merci pour tout les poissons.

        • Felton / Moderator

          Dammit!  Pardon my French.

  • https://twitter.com/misterjayem MrJM

    Apparently, this gets better. Dolphins in a French aquarium seem to be “speaking” whale—making whale-sounding noises at night that mimic the actual whale noises they hear all day on the soundtrack to the aquarium dolphin show they perform in. These dolphins have never met real whales. 

    Or those dolphins have been driven mad.

    • MarcVader

      Either that or they’re telling each other whale jokes all night. Poor whales.

  • mrfixitrick

    Perhaps Inter-Species Communication is an indicator of the overall rapid evolution which is currently invigorating the planet…

    When we see the “Inter-Species Olympic Games” advertised, we’ll know for sure!

  • zuludaddy

    I’d say I’m speechless, if it weren’t such an atrocious pun… But yeah, apparent interspecies communication… Though it is left unclear and perhaps impossible to know if the dolphins *know* they are “speaking whale”….  Astounding, in any case.

  • Mr_Smooth

    What does this say about humans’ relationship with Nessie, our underwater ally?

  • unfairrobot

    I for one welcome our new aquatic masters.

  • benher

    “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”

    • http://glitch.tl/ Michael Smith

      If the dolphins and the whales disappear, I will be stocking up on beer and peanuts.

    • Ipo

      Do you speak french? 
        =]

  • TheMudshark

    “Hey Frank, I think that Bottlenose just called your mom a floozy.”

  • MarcVader

    Of course they speak whale. Albeit with an atrocious accent. Sorta like Americans speaking Spanish.

    They also teach aerobics. http://gulfworldmarinepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/08-17-2008_031.jpg

  • Rob Butler

    This is the prane that dropped that bomb, as you can see, frying the prane is doffin and way-rle.

  • Lobster

    Nobody ever invites Orca.  He plays too rough.