It is well known that dolphins and whales are very intelligent animals. In fact, some researchers argue that they are on par with great apes or even humans. But where does this categorical statement come from?
There are two different theories. First, a series of cetacean behaviors are interpreted as displays of intelligence. And secondly, cetaceans have very large brains. In fact, whales and dolphins have the largest brains on the planet, with some of them weighing up to eight kilograms. In other words, they are six times heavier than the brain of an average human being.
The human being has a relatively large brain that allows him to examine and analyze the world in a complex way. Therefore, scientists believe that any other animal with an equally large (or even larger) brain must be using it for the same thing.
However, this logic is based on a very specific assumption: that one gram of brain tissue has the same ability to process information in the same way regardless of which brain it is in. It is this assumption that has challenged a study at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Study development
Scientific evidence holds that the cetacean brain is truly impressive. But not because of their intelligence, but because they produce much more heat than the brain of other mammals. Thus, through this research, scientists have been able to conclude that the cetacean brain has a specialized thermogenic system. This helps the animal’s brain to produce enough heat to maintain a functional brain temperature, fighting heat loss in icy waters. In addition, the results of the investigation were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
With this discovery, scientists can better understand the importance of water temperature for the survival of cetaceans. Likewise, it will allow researchers to understand what will happen to certain species of cetaceans during the inevitable rise in ocean temperatures due to the climate crisis.
According to the researchers, it is very possible that some species that depend on polar ice, such as beluga whales, become one more victim of global warming. Therefore, this discovery will allow conservation efforts to be directed in the most appropriate way to ensure the future of as many species as possible.
Cetacean brain evolution
The cetacean brain started to get really big about 32 million years ago. That is, 20 million years after they became fully aquatic mammals. At that time, there was a significant cooling of global ocean temperatures. For this reason, the cetaceans had to adapt to this environment to avoid becoming extinct.
In this way, it can be said that the brain of cetaceans is special because it produces much more heat than the brain of other mammals, as this is necessary for their survival in the cold environment in which they live.
