Night at the Opera: Whales and their Songs

You’re a whale just living life and swimming with your pod in the ocean, when all of a sudden… you hear it. A song coming from the depths. It isn’t a siren or some mythical melodious creature… it's a rival pod in your territory. Why are they there? And more importantly, What do they want? 

When people hear the term “whale song” a few different things come to mind. The “whale speak” from Finding Dory, an eerie sound from the depths in a horror film, or most commonly the language of today’s whales.

“There are about 90 different recognized species of “Cetaceans” in our oceans today.” (Source 2)

“***Cetaceans: marine mammals belonging to the infraorder Cetacea, a secondarily aquatic clade under the order Artiodactyla that include whales, dolphins, porpoises and extinct groups such as Basilosaurus” (source 1)

These 90 species are split up into 2 main “Suborders” based on how they eat. (source 2)

1.Toothed Whales - Odontoceti 

  (74 Species)    (source 1)

“As their name suggests, toothed whales (or odontocetes) have teeth. They also have one opening at their blowhole. Toothed whales tend to be social and live in groups. Like bats, they use echolocation or sonar to detect objects in their environment. They produce sounds in the air passages in their heads, which are then projected out in front of them. The sound bounces off solid objects and returns to them (like an echo), so the animals are able to get a "picture" of what is around them.”

2.Baleen Whales - Mysticeti 

  (16 species)     (source 1)

“Baleen whales have two blowholes and instead of teeth, they have hundreds of rows of baleen plates, which are made of keratin, a substance in our hair and fingernails. The baleen strains out small fish and plankton from the water for food.Most baleen whales feed by taking a large mouthful of food and water, and then push the water out of gaps between their baleen plates with their tongues. The food gets trapped on the inside fringed edge of the baleen. Most baleen whales eat krill (shrimp-like animals) or small fish.Even though baleen whales eat very small animals that are low on the food chain, these whales are all very large and eat great quantities at once.”

But why do whales “sing”? “Singing” is primarily used for… 

(Source 2)

• Long distance communication throughout the ocean

• Mating Rituals

• Asserting dominance during breeding season

• Territorial Reasons

• Sonar (Some Toothed Whales)

Because sound travels roughly four times faster in water than in air, these intricate melodies allow whales to maintain contact and navigate their underwater environment. (source 3)

So next time you hear the term "Whale Song"... Remember, it's not just an animal sound. There is meaning behind the melody.

Sources

• Source 1: https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/learn-about-marine-mammals/cetaceans

  • Cetaceans: marine mammals belonging to the infraorder Cetacea, a secondarily aquatic clade under the order Artiodactyla that include whales, dolphins, porpoises and extinct groups such as Basilosaurus (source 1)

  • Toothed Whales - Odontoceti (74 Species)    (source 1)

    •  “As their name suggests, toothed whales (or odontocetes) have teeth. They also have one opening at their blowhole. Toothed whales tend to be social and live in groups. Like bats, they use echolocation or sonar to detect objects in their environment. They produce sounds in the air passages in their heads, which are then projected out in front of them. The sound bounces off solid objects and returns to them (like an echo), so the animals are able to get a "picture" of what is around them.”

  • Baleen Whales - Mysticeti (16 species)     (source 1)

    • “Baleen whales have two blowholes and instead of teeth, they have hundreds of rows of baleen plates, which are made of keratin, a substance in our hair and fingernails. The baleen strains out small fish and plankton from the water for food.Most baleen whales feed by taking a large mouthful of food and water, and then push the water out of gaps between their baleen plates with their tongues. The food gets trapped on the inside fringed edge of the baleen. Most baleen whales eat krill (shrimp-like animals) or small fish.Even though baleen whales eat very small animals that are low on the food chain, these whales are all very large and eat great quantities at once.”

• Source 2: My brain

  •  “There are about 90 different recognized species of “Cetaceans” in our oceans today.” (Source 2)

  • These 90 species are split up into 2 main “Suborders” based on how they eat. (source 2)

  • But why do whales “sing”? “Singing” is primarily used for…  (Source 2)

• Long distance communication throughout the ocean

• Mating Rituals

• Asserting dominance during breeding season

• Territorial Reasons

• Source 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xr9BYhlceA&t=8s

  • Because sound travels roughly four times faster in water than in air, these intricate melodies allow whales to maintain contact and navigate their underwater environment. (source 3)