Dolphins are adept at learning new vocalizations (whistles) throughout life
, an ability thus far demonstrated in few nonhuman mammals. In dolphins, th
is ability is well documented in captivity but poorly studied in the wild,
and little is known of its role in natural social behavior. This study docu
ments the previously unknown phenomenon of whistle convergence among habitu
ated free-living male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.). Over a 4 yr study
period. three male subjects formed an alliance, spending most of their tim
e together and cooperating to herd females. Within individuals, whistle rep
ertoires were more variable than expected based on previous studies, mostly
performed with captive dolphins, but became less so during the course of t
he study. Among individuals, the distinctiveness of individual repertoires
decreased such that the three males were virtually indistinguishable by the
end of the study. Initially, some whistle types were shared. By the end of
the study, the three males had formed a close alliance, and had all conver
ged on one particular shared whistle form which they had rarely produced be
fore forming the alliance. The results are discussed in terms of their impl
ications for the prevailing 'signature whistle' hypothesis, as well as poss
ible mechanisms and functional significance of whistle convergence among co
operating males.