Re: Are we,homo sapiens,the only animal that lies?

Chick:  You are correct in that we are the only animals that communicate in 
a way that we can understand the communication completely, but other 
organisms communicate also.  Since we can't understand all of these various 
modes of communication, we are not sure if all of their's are truthful or 
not.  In terms of blushing, since it is a function of anything that dilates 
the surface blood vessels, lots of animals do that -  but since many 
animals are hairy or have exceptionally thick skin or shells, we cannot see 
the results of this dilation.  Other organisms, including plants, deceive 
other members of their species or others.  For example, the angler fish has 
an appendage on its forehead that looks like a worm.  When another creature 
comes close enough to investigate what it thinks is supper, the angler fish 
eats the curious onlooker.  Is that a "lie"?  What about animals that 
camouflage themselves to look like part of their environment in order to 
fool another creature into getting close enough to them to get eaten?  The 
pitcher and venus fly trap plants look inviting to insects but when the 
insects investigate, they are doomed to become the plants source of extra 
nutrients.  Are these acts of survival lies?  Are morals and ethics 
different when the final end is survival of the individual?  of the 
species?  Your question is more of a philosophical question than it is a 
biological one but never the less, an interesting one. More and more 
biological questions are becoming over laid with ethical considerations. 
We as biologists need people to raise ethical concerns.  Keep it up. I hope 
that I helped you with your question.  J. Bridger