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Researchers Discover Male Dolphins Can Form 'Boy Bands' To Sing And Attract Females

Researchers Discover Male Dolphins Can Form 'Boy Bands' To Sing And Attract Females

Dolphins off the coast of Australia have been recorded harmonising their popping calls, which have a 'magnetic' effect on the females.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Most people assume boy bands like NSYNC, One Direction, The Backstreet Boys and BTS are only seen in human form.

However, researchers have discovered that another species on this planet enjoys forming a group to bust out some dulcet tones.

During their observation of male dolphins off the coast of Western Australia, scientists have found the animals like to attract females by joining together to harmonise and sing.

Pikrepo (Creative Commons)

An article published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B has revealed these dolphins in Shark Bay, WA, synchronise their 'popping' calls, which reportedly have a 'magnetic' effect on females.

But, unlike human boy bands who might split up after a few years in the limelight, these dolphin boy bands can last decades.

The report says: "These strong alliance relationships can last for decades and are critical to each male's reproductive success.

"This is because males cannot monopolise and defend females on their own due to the intense competition for receptive females, minimal sexual size dimorphism, and because the three-dimensional habitat impedes coerced mating by single males."

PA

Research on these particular dolphins was carried out from 2016 to 2018.

The team of scientists, led by Stephanie King at the University of Bristol, was intrigued by reports of dolphins harmonising to get ahead in the reproductive dance.

The researchers analysed seven groups of male dolphins to see whether their pops were synchronised deliberately or just by chance.

After pouring over the data, the scientists found 172 occasions where the noises were deliberately done.

King told Newsweek: "Pops are only produced by male dolphins when they are herding females. It's a coercive vocalisation that induces the female to stay close to the popping male."

Pxfuel

Stephanie's team noticed that the dolphins might also start popping together to keep a female from swimming away.

King continued: "Outside of humans, very few animals coordinate both vocal signals and physical movement when working together.

"We have shown that allied male dolphins not only synchronise their movements, but also coordinate their vocal behaviour when cooperating together in alliances."

Researchers have discovered that there are other species who team up in similar ways to get the attention of their potential mates.

Male fireflies will flash their bulbs at the same time to attract a female, while male fiddler crabs will all wave their claws at the same time for a similar desired effect.

Featured Image Credit: Creative Commons

Topics: News, Animals