Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays
Male walruses produce some of the longest continuous reproductive displays known among mammals to convey their physical fitness to potential rivals and possibly to potential mates. Here, we document the ability of a captive walrus to produce intense, rhythmic sounds through a non-vocal pathway invol...
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2021
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org:ark:/13030/qt1872r5wv 2023-09-05T13:22:18+02:00 Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays Larsen, Ole Næsbye Reichmuth, Colleen 210197 2021-06-01 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1872r5wv unknown eScholarship, University of California qt1872r5wv https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1872r5wv public Royal Society Open Science, vol 8, iss 6 sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus article 2021 ftcdlib 2023-08-21T18:07:59Z Male walruses produce some of the longest continuous reproductive displays known among mammals to convey their physical fitness to potential rivals and possibly to potential mates. Here, we document the ability of a captive walrus to produce intense, rhythmic sounds through a non-vocal pathway involving deliberate, regular collision of the fore flippers. High-speed videography linked to an acoustic onset marker revealed sound production through cavitation, with the acoustic impulse generated by each forceful clap exceeding a peak-to-peak sound level of 200 dB re. 1 µPa. This clapping display is in some ways quite similar to the knocking display more commonly associated with walruses in rut but is produced through a very different mechanism and with much higher amplitudes. While this clapping behaviour has not yet been documented in wild individuals, it has been observed among other mature male walruses living in human care. Production of intense sounds through cavitation has previously been documented only in crustaceans but may also be an effective means of sound production for some aquatic mammals. Article in Journal/Newspaper Odobenus rosmarus walrus* University of California: eScholarship |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
unknown |
topic |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus |
spellingShingle |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus Larsen, Ole Næsbye Reichmuth, Colleen Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
topic_facet |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus |
description |
Male walruses produce some of the longest continuous reproductive displays known among mammals to convey their physical fitness to potential rivals and possibly to potential mates. Here, we document the ability of a captive walrus to produce intense, rhythmic sounds through a non-vocal pathway involving deliberate, regular collision of the fore flippers. High-speed videography linked to an acoustic onset marker revealed sound production through cavitation, with the acoustic impulse generated by each forceful clap exceeding a peak-to-peak sound level of 200 dB re. 1 µPa. This clapping display is in some ways quite similar to the knocking display more commonly associated with walruses in rut but is produced through a very different mechanism and with much higher amplitudes. While this clapping behaviour has not yet been documented in wild individuals, it has been observed among other mature male walruses living in human care. Production of intense sounds through cavitation has previously been documented only in crustaceans but may also be an effective means of sound production for some aquatic mammals. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Larsen, Ole Næsbye Reichmuth, Colleen |
author_facet |
Larsen, Ole Næsbye Reichmuth, Colleen |
author_sort |
Larsen, Ole Næsbye |
title |
Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
title_short |
Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
title_full |
Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
title_fullStr |
Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
title_full_unstemmed |
Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
title_sort |
walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1872r5wv |
op_coverage |
210197 |
genre |
Odobenus rosmarus walrus* |
genre_facet |
Odobenus rosmarus walrus* |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, vol 8, iss 6 |
op_relation |
qt1872r5wv https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1872r5wv |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1776202818136309760 |