Whale vocalization

Whale sounds (or vocalization) are used by whales for communication.  Whales can make different kinds of sounds, including growling and singing. The song of whales is a regular sound made by some whales (for example, baleen whale). Humpback whales make long, complicated songs. Some whales can sing and some cannot.

Scientists are not sure what the songs do.  Whales as young as one month old make some songs.  Among humpback wales, the male adults sing much more than other whales do, so scientists think it might be males competing for mates.

Unlike humans, whales do not pass air through vocal cords to make sounds.  Bubbles do not rise up from a whale as it makes sounds.  Some scientists think whales push air through holes inside their heads, called sinuses.  They push the air across tissue called "phonic lips" or "vocal folds."

Due to their life in the water, whales and other marine mammals are very dependent on acoustic communication.

References

Category:Animal communication
Category:Cetaceans
vocal