Baleen Whales Can Feel it in Their Bones
Skulls of baleen whales the suborder of whales that comprise all toothless variations have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves.
Can Baleen Whales Can Feel it in Their Bones?
A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales the suborder of whales that comprise all toothless variations, including blue whales, gray whales, and humpback whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.
When baleen whales, which are the largest animals on Earth, intercept the deep murmuring noises that they send across the ocean, their skulls begins to slightly vibrate. This nearly undetectable quivering is directed to their ear bones and is interpreted as sound.
This discovery, made by biologist Ted W. Cranford of San Diego State University and engineer Petr Krysl of the University of California San Diego, is unprecedented. Whale noise is a notoriously elusive subject for scientists. (No one yet knows what whales are communicating if at all with their deep, low frequency calls.)
“This makes you wonder how much we’re interfering with whale communication sounds or whatever they’re using the sounds for,” Cranford says. “Do we have some sort of effect? Can they not find a mate? Can they not find a food source?”
Cranford cautions, however, against making any sweeping claim about our harmful effect on these creatures. Their research sheds some light on a previously shadowed issue, but the next step will be trying to discover just how sensitive they are to these noises.
For More Information:
https://www.psmag.com/nature-and-technology/whales-can-hear-through-their-bones
Baleen Whales Can Feel it in Their Bones
A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.