London: Rodents can mimic and learn complex calls and sounds, scientists have found.
Male mice, who use high-pitched love songs to woo females, also change their tune when there is competition around, the findings suggest.
This ability, known as local learning, had been thought to be limited to people, as well as some birds, dolphins, whales, bats, elephants and seals, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.
The finding could help shed light on autism and other conditions in characterised by problems in communication.
It was already known that male mice whistle or sing when trying to court females but it was assumed that their ultrasonic cries are produced instinctively, with little thought going into the process.
The research was conducted by a team from Duke University in North Carolina, US.
IANS
