One of the best-known features of whales is their singing. Male whales sing the longest and most complex songs in the animal kingdom. It is believed that song is one of the ways males compete to attract females: the best singer attracts the best mate!
A whales song consists of a number of different sounds which are put together to form a phrase. The phrase is repeated by the whale to create a theme. By putting the themes together the whale creates its song, which may have as many as nine themes in it. The song may just last a few minutes or as much as several hours. After finishing a rendition of its song, the whale goes back to the beginning and starts again. They don't seem to get bored of their songs - they may sing them for hours or even days at a time!
All the male whales in a population will sing the same song and over time it evolves as new sounds are added and old ones discarded. Different populations will sing different songs. For instance, whales in the North Atlantic will sing a very different song to those in the Pacific. The songs may travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles through the water.
The location of sound production is unknown but the larynx is suspected. Baleen whales have no vocal cords.
Baleen whales produce primarily low-frequency sounds--below 5,000 Hz. These sounds may be involved in long-distance communication, orientation, or navigation. The repertoire of baleen whale sounds includes low-frequency (20-200Hz) moans, grunts, thumps and knocks; and higher-frequency (above 1000 Hz) chirps, cries, and whistles. The specific vocalizations vary by species.
Bowhead and humpback whales also produce a series of repeating units of sounds up to 5,000 Hz that are classified as songs. These are produced primarily by males on the breeding grounds. The songs, which can last up to 36 minutes each for humpbacks, probably communicate species, sex, location, mate status, and readiness to compete with other males for mates. More analysis of the behavior and song is needed before the true function of whale songs is known.
Read more: How do whales make the noise for their singing? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/495260#ixzz1GidQoOU3
One of the best-known features of whales is their singing. Male whales sing the longest and most complex songs in the animal kingdom. It is believed that song is one of the ways males compete to attract females: the best singer attracts the best mate!
ReplyDeleteA whales song consists of a number of different sounds which are put together to form a phrase. The phrase is repeated by the whale to create a theme. By putting the themes together the whale creates its song, which may have as many as nine themes in it. The song may just last a few minutes or as much as several hours. After finishing a rendition of its song, the whale goes back to the beginning and starts again. They don't seem to get bored of their songs - they may sing them for hours or even days at a time!
All the male whales in a population will sing the same song and over time it evolves as new sounds are added and old ones discarded. Different populations will sing different songs. For instance, whales in the North Atlantic will sing a very different song to those in the Pacific. The songs may travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles through the water.
The location of sound production is unknown but the larynx is suspected. Baleen whales have no vocal cords.
Baleen whales produce primarily low-frequency sounds--below 5,000 Hz. These sounds may be involved in long-distance communication, orientation, or navigation. The repertoire of baleen whale sounds includes low-frequency (20-200Hz) moans, grunts, thumps and knocks; and higher-frequency (above 1000 Hz) chirps, cries, and whistles. The specific vocalizations vary by species.
Bowhead and humpback whales also produce a series of repeating units of sounds up to 5,000 Hz that are classified as songs. These are produced primarily by males on the breeding grounds. The songs, which can last up to 36 minutes each for humpbacks, probably communicate species, sex, location, mate status, and readiness to compete with other males for mates. More analysis of the behavior and song is needed before the true function of whale songs is known.
Read more: How do whales make the noise for their singing? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/495260#ixzz1GidQoOU3