Ritualized 'talking' in caterpillars evolved from walking (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have long wondered how elaborate animal communication signals evolved, and while animal communication theory holds that many evolved from non-signaling behaviors, there has been little empirical evidence for this. Now scientists in Canada have used comparative and molecular phylogenetic methods to study ritualized territorial signals in caterpillars to show that a communication behavior of some of the caterpillars -- anal scraping to warn off intruders -- evolved from the ritualization of locomotory and fighting behaviors.

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