Hi Sue,
Initially mothers and calves stay so close together that mothers probably don't need to pick their calf out of a crowd -- although I expect they still can. Since mothers resume feeding before weaning their young they must have a well developed method for IDing their young. But I am not sure how mothers recognize their calves. They may use visual cues, vocalizations or perhaps even odor among the baleen species.
Cathy Schaeff
-----Original Message-----
From: suer osenthal <suerosenthal@mminternet.com>
To: schaeff@american.edu <schaeff@american.edu>; pita@whale.wheelock.edu <pita@whale.wheelock.edu>
Date: Monday, December 17, 2001 1:11 PM
Subject: calves
Do you know how whale mothers recognize their calves? Does it vary by sub-order (baleen vs. toothed) or species?
Thank you,
Sue
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