(KCEN) -- Turns out humans aren't the only ones in the animal kingdom who name themselves.
Researchers in Florida just discovered bottlenose dolphins can too.
Scientists from the Mote Marine Lab noticed the dolphins whistle to each other and they weren't just random noises.
Turns out the whistles were names.
The scientists say the animals call to one another's individual's name to get their attention.
Dr. Randall Wells with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program said, "So they not only understand they have an identity, but they understand the other animal's identity and they use that through communication."
The researcher says bottlenose dolphins don't swim in the wild with their own families. Instead they make long-term friendships with dolphins from other families.
So with name calling, they keep in touch with their friends and make new ones.
