Nature & Environment

Can a dolphin see a developing baby ?

By T.K. Randall
July 11, 2013 ·  6 comments

Image Credit: (Flickr) Zest-pk Medical scans involving the use of ultrasound are carried out during pregnancy to check on the health of the developing infant, a mechanism that is similar to the way in which dolphins use echolocation to feel their way around underwater. On that basis, could dolphins use their own ultrasound capabilities to detect and effectively "see" an unborn baby in a human mother's womb ?

Anecdotal reports have indicated that dolphins seem to pay special attention to pregnant women, sometimes swimming up to them and making a distinct buzzing sound. Studies of dolphin behavior have also indicated that the marine mammals are able to sense shapes through an opaque barrier. In a similar way to a sonogram, dolphins may indeed be able to mentally "see" an unborn infant using their ultrasound echolocation capabilities.[!gad]Medical scans involving the use of ultrasound are carried out during pregnancy to check on the health of the developing infant, a mechanism that is similar to the way in which dolphins use echolocation to feel their way around underwater. On that basis, could dolphins use their own ultrasound capabilities to detect and effectively "see" an unborn baby in a human mother's womb ?

Anecdotal reports have indicated that dolphins seem to pay special attention to pregnant women, sometimes swimming up to them and making a distinct buzzing sound. Studies of dolphin behavior have also indicated that the marine mammals are able to sense shapes through an opaque barrier. In a similar way to a sonogram, dolphins may indeed be able to mentally "see" an unborn infant using their ultrasound echolocation capabilities.

Source: Live Science | Comments (6)

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