Mason Blake
Baleen whales, which include the blue whale, the largest animal in Earth's history, rely on sound to navigate their vast, dark, and murky ocean habitats. Baleen whales produce a range of sounds, from very low-frequency moans, grunts, thumps, and knocks, to higher-frequency chirps, cries, whistles, and songs. These sounds are believed to be used for long-range contact, assembly, mating rituals, greeting, location, orientation, threat, navigation, and individual identification. The production of these sounds is made possible by unique structures in the whale's larynx, which allow them to efficiently produce frequency-modulated, low-frequency calls while also preventing them from inhaling water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sound frequency | 10 Hz to 31 kHz |
| Vocalization range | Very low frequency (20-200 Hz) and higher frequency (above 1000 Hz) |
| Sound production | Baleen whales use their larynx, or voice box, to produce sound |
| Sound travel | Sounds may travel for hundreds of kilometres underwater |
| Purpose of sounds | Long-range contact, assembly, advertisement for mates, greeting, location, orientation, threat, navigation, individual identification, sexual selection |
| Sound variation | Sounds vary by species |
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What You'll Learn
Baleen whales use sound for social and reproductive behaviours
Baleen whales produce primarily low-frequency sounds, usually well below 5,000 Hz. These sounds are among the loudest produced by any animal and can travel for hundreds of kilometres underwater.
The vocalizations of baleen whales include very low-frequency moans, grunts, thumps, and knocks, as well as higher-frequency chirps, cries, whistles, and songs. Humpback whales, for example, produce a series of repeating units of sounds that are classified as "songs". These songs are produced by males and only while in breeding grounds.
The sounds produced by baleen whales are believed to be used for social and reproductive behaviours. For example, the complex sounds of the humpback whale are believed to be primarily used in sexual selection. The louder sounds may be used for long-range contact, assembly, advertisement for mates, greeting, location, orientation, threat, navigation, or individual identification. The specific function of whale songs is still being researched, and any adaptive advantages of singing are yet unknown.
Baleen whales evolved unique parts in their larynx that create their complex vocalizations. They use cartilages called the arytenoids, which also appear in the human larynx. In baleen whales, these cartilages appear as large, long cylinders at the base of a U-shaped rigid structure that covers the full length of the larynx, helping to keep their airway open when moving large amounts of air through their massive bodies.
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They produce low-frequency vocalisations
Baleen whales produce low-frequency vocalisations, mostly below 5,000 Hz. These sounds may be the loudest produced by any animal and can travel for hundreds of kilometres underwater. The vocalisations of baleen whales include very low-frequency moans, grunts, thumps and knocks, as well as higher-frequency chirps, cries, whistles, and songs. Humpback whales, for example, produce a series of repeating units of sounds that are classified as "songs". These songs are produced by males, and only in breeding grounds.
The low-frequency sounds produced by baleen whales may serve several purposes. Researchers speculate that these sounds are used for long-range contact, assembly, attracting mates, greeting, location, orientation, threat, navigation, or individual identification. The specific functions of these vocalisations vary by species. For instance, bowhead whales produce low-frequency sounds that may give them information about the ocean floor and the locations of ice.
The production of low-frequency sounds in baleen whales is made possible by unique structures in their larynx, specifically, the arytenoids, which are also found in the human larynx. These structures allow baleen whales to produce sound through vibrations and enable them to recycle air while preventing the inhalation of water. The evolution of these specialised laryngeal structures is believed to be an adaptation to their aquatic lifestyle, enabling them to efficiently produce frequency-modulated, low-frequency calls.
While the larynx is suspected to be the location of sound production in baleen whales, it is important to note that they do not possess vocal cords. Additionally, studies have observed a decrease in the frequency of baleen whale vocalisations over time. The reason for this decline remains unclear, but it may be influenced by seasonal variations in ambient noise levels, such as the increase in sounds associated with ice during the summer months.
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Baleen whales have unique laryngeal structures for sound production
Baleen whales are the largest animals ever to have roamed the planet. As top predators, they play a vital role in marine ecosystems. They depend on sound for communication in their vast, opaque marine environments.
To communicate across vast distances and find each other, baleen whales rely critically on the production of sounds that can travel far in murky and dark oceans. Their vocalizations are used to mediate complex social and reproductive behaviours.
While it was known that baleen whales produced sounds, the physical structures they used to do so remained a mystery for over 50 years. A recent study published in the journal Nature has revealed that baleen whales have unique laryngeal structures for sound production.
The study found that baleen whales evolved novel structures in their larynx that enable them to produce low-frequency vocalizations. These structures include large, long cylinders fused at the base to form a large U-shaped rigid structure that extends nearly the full length of the larynx. This U-shaped structure pushes against a big fatty cushion on the inside of the larynx. When the whales push air from their lungs past this cushion, it vibrates and generates very low-frequency sounds.
These unique laryngeal structures allow baleen whales to efficiently produce frequency-modulated, low-frequency calls. However, they also limit the whales' communication range and prevent them from escaping anthropogenic noise, such as shipping traffic, which overlaps with their frequency range.
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They do not echolocate like toothed whales
Baleen whales, also known as whalebone whales, are marine mammals that use baleen plates in their mouths to sieve plankton from the water. Mysticeti, or baleen whales, use vocalizations to mediate their complex social and reproductive behaviours in their marine environments. They produce primarily low-frequency sounds, mostly well below 5,000 Hz, which may be the loudest produced by any animal and can travel for hundreds of kilometres underwater.
While baleen whales rely on sound, they do not echolocate like toothed whales. Instead of using a nasal vocal organ like toothed whales, baleen whales have evolved unique parts in their larynx that create their complex vocalizations. These specialized structures in their larynx allow for sound production and air recycling, while also preventing the inhalation of water. The arytenoids, which are also found in the human larynx, help keep their airway open when moving large amounts of air through their massive bodies.
The first toothless ancestors of baleen whales, Eomysticetus, showed no evidence in their skull of echolocation abilities, suggesting that they relied on their eyesight for navigation. Baleen whales produce a variety of sounds, including very low-frequency moans, grunts, thumps, and knocks, as well as higher-frequency chirps, cries, whistles, and songs. These vocalizations may be used for long-range contact, assembly, attracting mates, greeting, location, orientation, threat, navigation, or individual identification.
While the specific functions of these sounds are still being studied, it is clear that baleen whales have evolved unique structures in their larynx to produce a diverse range of vocalizations that support their social and reproductive behaviours. However, unlike toothed whales, echolocation is not a sense that baleen whales possess or utilize.
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Some baleen whales sing to attract mates
Baleen whales produce a range of sounds, from very low-frequency moans, grunts, thumps and knocks to higher-frequency chirps, cries, and whistles. Their vocalizations are produced by unique parts in their larynx that create complex sounds. These sounds are thought to be used for long-range contact, assembly, location, orientation, threat, navigation, and individual identification.
Humpback whales, in particular, produce songs that are used for courtship and social bonding. These songs are produced by males, only while in breeding grounds. They are among the most sophisticated examples of non-human cultural communication in the animal kingdom.
While the function of whale songs is not yet fully understood, they are believed to serve as a means of complex communication, social bonding, and courtship. They may also be used for navigation and environmental awareness.
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Frequently asked questions
Baleen whales produce sound through vibrations in their larynx, which is also known as their voice box.
Baleen whales make a range of sounds, including moans, grunts, thumps, knocks, chirps, cries, whistles, and songs.
Baleen whales use sound to mediate their complex social and reproductive behaviours. They rely on sound to find their kin and migrate long distances in the dark ocean.
Baleen whales hear sound through their ears, which are protected by an airspace that is preserved at depth around the ear ossicles.
Baleen whales produce mostly low-frequency sounds, while toothed whales produce rapid bursts of high-frequency clicks for echolocation. Baleen whales have also evolved unique structures in their larynx that toothed whales do not have.
