I
n the ocean, a squid floats over a reef. Its
green and tan skin help it blend in with the sand, seaweed, and water. Suddenly, colorful spots flash on its skin. Stripes zigzag across its back. Half of its eight arms turn ghostly white. T is squid isn’t playing around. It’s using
its body to send a message. It’s telling a nearby squid, “Go away!” T e other squid gets the message, loud and clear. It turns pale and quickly jets away. T is squid’s color show is just one of the
many ways animals communicate with one another. Animals don’t use words, of course. Instead, they let their bodies, smells, and sounds do the talking. Every stomp, stink, or squawk sends a
message. Maybe it’s “Watch out!” It could be, “Come quick! I found food,” or even, “I’m friendly.” T ese messages aren’t just simple chatter. Animals use them to share the information they need to survive. Let’s listen in.
These two red-crowned cranes dance to say, “I like you.”
A honeybee buzzes away from its hive. It’s looking for nectar and pollen. Aſt er spotting a field of flowers, it quickly buzzes back to its hive. It’s got an important message to share. It needs to tell the other bees where to find food. T e bee zooms into the hive. It starts a
bee dance. First, it crawls in a straight line. It wriggles its back end and vibrates its wings. T en it loops around and starts again. T is waggle dance is like a bee map. Every
wriggle and step sends a message. T e straight line points the way to the flowers. T e rhythm of the wriggles tells the bees how far they need to fly. If it’s slow, the flowers are far away. T e speed the bee goes as it makes a loop tells how good the food is. T e faster, the better. T at’s some sweet body language.
4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTREME EXPLORER
Red-crowned cranes dance, too. First, a male crane arches his neck. He points his beak straight up in the air. T en he dips his long neck toward the ground. It looks like he’s bowing. He’s inviting another crane to dance with him. Soon, a female crane dips her neck, too. She
begins to dance. T e pair flap their big wings at one another. T ey leap into the air. T ey spin and run in circles. T ey pick up and toss sticks, grass, and feathers. Cranes begin to practice these dance moves
almost as soon as they hatch. Sometimes, they dance alone just for fun. Other times, they dance to find a mate. Once they pair off for life, they keep dancing. T is dance oſt en has a simple message: “I like you.”
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