Chapter 11: Sound production for communication, echolocation and prey capture

Question 1

Vocalizations: Marine mammals vs humans

Answer 1

Marine mammals vocalisations often extend both above and below the range of human hearing.

Frequenzies outside of human hearing are labeled infrasonic (below) and ultrasonic (above)

Question 2

Sound in water

Answer 2

Sound travels five times faster in water than in air.

Some marine mammals have co-opted the increased velocity of sound underwater to compensate for poor vision underwater. Using hearing as primary sensory mode to explore their environment and to communicate with conspecifics.

Question 3

Echolocation definition

Answer 3

The active detection and identification of targets with sound among some cetaceans

Question 4

Typical mammalian ear

Answer 4

Divided into three main anatomical divisions: outer, middle and inner ear components.