Evidence that a captive humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) does not use sonar

Beamish, Peter

doi:10.1016/0146-6291(78)90554-4

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…About a decade after the definitive experimental demonstration of echolocation in dolphins (Norris et al 1961), several papers appeared suggesting that baleen whales might also produce ultrasonic clicks of use for echolocation (Beamish andMitchell 1971, 1973). However, these should stand as a cautionary tale about the difficulties of identifying vocalizations from marine mammals at sea.…”

Section: Baleen Whalesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Communication and Acoustic Behavior of Dolphins and Whales

Tyack¹,

Clark²

2000

Springer Handbook of Auditory Research

186

159

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Section: Baleen Whalesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Communication and Acoustic Behavior of Dolphins and Whales

Tyack¹,

Clark²

2000

Springer Handbook of Auditory Research

186

159

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“…Mysticete cetacean (baleen whale) vocalizations are related to a variety of behaviors including intraspecific communication, mate attraction, aggression, distress, and feeding (Payne and McVay, 1971;Thompson et al, 1979;Thompson et al, 1986), but probably not echolocation (Beamish, 1978). Vocalizations are produced primarily in the low frequency range (see review in Richardson et al, 1995; see also Thompson et al, 1986Thompson et al, , 1992Cummings and Holliday, 1987;Crane and Lashkari, 1996;Stafford et al, 1999;Mellinger and Clarke, 2003).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of a low frequency sound source in Mysticeti (baleen whales): Anatomical establishment of a vocal fold homolog

Reidenberg

Laitman

2007

The Anatomical Record

105

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The mechanism of mysticete (baleen whale) vocalization has remained a mystery. Vocal folds (true vocal ''cords''), the structures responsible for sound production in terrestrial mammals, were thought to be absent in whales. This study tests the hypothesis that the mysticete larynx possesses structures homologous to vocal folds and that they are capable of sound generation. Laryngeal anatomy was examined in 37 specimens representing 6 mysticete species. Results indicate the presence of a U-shaped fold (U-fold) in the lumen of the larynx. The U-fold is supported by arytenoid cartilages, controlled by skeletal muscles innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, is adjacent to a diverticulum (laryngeal sac) covered with mucosa innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve, and contains a ligament-conditions that also define the vocal folds of terrestrial mammals and, therefore, supports homology. Unlike the vocal folds of terrestrial mammals, which are perpendicular to airflow, the mysticete U-fold is oriented parallel to airflow. U-fold adduction/abduction and elevation/depression may control airflow, and vibration of its edges may generate sounds. The walls of the laryngeal sac can expand and contract, may serve as a resonant space, and may also propagate vibrations generated by movements of the supporting arytenoid cartilages. The extensive musculature surrounding the laryngeal sac may enable rapid and forceful expulsion of air from the lumen of the sac into other respiratory spaces, or maintain a constant sac volume despite the effects of ambient pressure (e.g., changes during diving or ascent). The size and complexity of the mysticete larynx indicates an organ with multiple functions, including protection during breathing/swallowing, regulation of airflow and pressures in the respiratory spaces, and sound generation. The presence of a vocal fold homolog offers a new insight into both the mechanism of sound generation by mysticetes and the divergent evolution of odontocete and mysticete cetaceans. Anat Rec, 290:745-759, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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“…Unlike toothed whales, mysticetes do not echolocate (see [9]), but some species use vision to locate prey [2]. We thus set out to learn whether E. glacialis could sight concentrations of C. finmarchicus at the depths at which they feed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with copepods: do right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ) forage visually in dark waters?

Cronin

Fasick

Schweikert

et al. 2017

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) feed during the spring and early summer in marine waters off the northeast coast of North America. Their food primarily consists of planktonic copepods, Calanus finmarchicus, which they consume in large numbers by ram filter feeding. The coastal waters where these whales forage are turbid, but they successfully locate copepod swarms during the day at depths exceeding 100 m, where light is very dim and copepod patches may be difficult to see. Using models of E. glacialis visual sensitivity together with measurements of light in waters near Cape Cod where they feed and of light attenuation by living copepods in seawater, we evaluated the potential for visual foraging by these whales. Our results suggest that vision may be useful for finding copepod patches, particularly if E. glacialis searches overhead for silhouetted masses or layers of copepods. This should permit the whales to locate C. finmarchicus visually throughout most daylight hours at depths throughout their foraging range. Looking laterally, the whales might also be able to see copepod patches at short range near the surface.

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Evidence that a captive humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) does not use sonar

Cited by 12 publications

References 1 publication

Communication and Acoustic Behavior of Dolphins and Whales

Communication and Acoustic Behavior of Dolphins and Whales

Discovery of a low frequency sound source in Mysticeti (baleen whales): Anatomical establishment of a vocal fold homolog

Coping with copepods: do right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ) forage visually in dark waters?

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