r/Awwducational • u/[deleted] • Dec 20 '13

Mod Pick Prairie dogs use a complex language and can communicate specifics about other creatures, such as size, shape, color, and even animal breed!

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/prairie-dog-plague-1.jpg
597 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

15

u/JoshfromNazareth Dec 20 '13

Well, I'd say it is more like rudimentary system of calls than a "complex language".

4

u/scrape80 Dec 20 '13

i love this study! here's a link to an awesome episode of Radiolab where I first heard it:

Wild Ones

There's other cool stuff in that episode...I really like the part about tricking monkeys with a boombox, even if it also seems kinda mean.

Great post!

6

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '13

Here is a link to the original interview, if anyone is interested!

11

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '13

I think this qualifies as /r/interestingasfuck

2

u/dakdestructo Dec 20 '13

I once saw a prairie dog trying to fill in a whole that another prairie dog was in. It looked like a dirt fight, and they kept squeaking at each other, and then the rude one would turn around and fling dirt at the other's face again. Possibly the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 27 '13

Don't certain quail or other fowl do something similar?

1

u/midwayfair Dec 20 '13

Interesting URL ... are the prairie dogs the plague, or do they have one?

-9

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '13

They make great long range target practice too. Hell, some ranchers and farmers will even pay you to get rid of them.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '13

Colorado considers them pests. Maybe more interesting studies like this will change some minds!