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This thesis investigated the development and functions of individually distinctive signature whistles of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in waters near Sarasota, Florida. First, results of playback experiments strongly suggested that dolphins use signature whistles for individual recognition. Second, male calves were more likely than females to produce signature whistle contours similar to those of their mothers, whereas females were more likely to produce whistles distinct from those of their mothers. Male calves appeared to produce more whistles other than the signature (called variant whistles) than did females. Finally, several sources of data indicate that learning plays a role in signature whistle development; this contrasts with what is known about vocal development in other non-human mammalian species. Focal observations and acoustic recordings of mother-calf pairs were conducted to examine the effects of the early social and auditory environment on signature whistle development. This provided preliminary insights into factors affecting both the time course of whistle development and whether or not a calf develops a contour similar to that of its mother, these included strength of the mother-calf association, number of associates, overall number of whistles heard, and number of whistles produced by the mother.... Development, Functions, Dolphins.