EPISODE · Apr 15, 2026 · 14 MIN
When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
from Science Friday · host Flora Lichtman, Shoshannah Buxbaum, Laela Sayigh
What are dolphins actually saying with their iconic, high-pitched whistles? Dolphin communication researcher Laela Sayigh is trying to find out. She’s been compiling a database of whistles from a pod of dolphins in Sarasota, Florida, the longest-studied group of cetaceans in the world. She joins Flora to discuss fundamental questions about dolphin dialects, including how dolphins’ “signature” whistles can change depending on context, and the process of decoding new types of whistles. Guest: Dr. Laela Sayigh is a senior research specialist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
Recordings from a decades-long research project in Florida are helping scientists decode the complexity of dolphin whistles.
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When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
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