Doug Von Gausig wrote:
> At 05:04 PM 4/7/2003, Kevin Colver wrote:
>
>
>>It has been my impression that only the Passeriformes, Psittaciformes,
>>and the Trochilidae "learned" their songs and/or calls. I believe the
>>Columbiformes (doves) have the ability to sing "hard-wired" into their
>>brains genetically and do not learn their songs. Any experts in the
>>group to set us straight?
>
>
> Current research by Erich Jarvis indicates that only those three bird clads
> have the necessary glutamate receptors in their brains to allow vocal
> learning. This trait is shared by bats, humans, and whales/dolphins, BTW.
> See http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2003/0215jarvis.shtml for more info.
Probably other mammals as well.
And some frogs.
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020708/020708-2.html
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00114/contents/02/00335/index.html
Walt
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