Mother turtles 'talk' with baby turtles

Brazilian scientists recorded the sound of mother turtles communicating with baby turtles on the Amazon River.

The recordings reveal that, during the nesting season, river turtles exchange information, communicate with each other using at least six types of sounds. The conversation was also recorded between adult children and young children.

Sounds can help young children find their way.(Photo: BBC news)

Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Association (WCS) and the Amazon Research Institute have used underwater microphones and hydrophones to record over 250 different sounds from animals.

"This is the first recording of turtles on the river," the team said. This shows that turtles can be vulnerable to the effects of noise pollution and their social life is much more complicated than previously thought. The results are published in Herpetologica magazine, BBC News said.

Scientists after analyzing the cries of turtles divided the sound into six different types, each corresponding to a specific behavior.

"The meaning of the voices is unclear, but we think that they are exchanging information and sounds to help animals assimilate their activities during the nesting season ," Dr. Camila Ferrara of the WCS program. Brazil told the BBC.

Dr. Ferrara believes that female turtles create different, subtle cries to guide their offspring through the water.'Without these sounds, the youngsters may not know where to go,' Ferrara said.

Many turtles are capable of living for decades. Scientists believe that young turtles learn communication and sound skills through larger individuals.