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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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210197 https://doaj.org/article/b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 2023-05-15T17:52:25+02:00 Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays Ole Næsbye Larsen Colleen Reichmuth 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210197 https://doaj.org/article/b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 EN eng The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.210197 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.210197 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 Royal Society Open Science, Vol 8, Iss 6 (2021) sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus Science Q article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210197 2022-12-31T06:30:42Z 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* Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Royal Society Open Science 8 6 210197 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus Science Q |
spellingShingle |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus Science Q Ole Næsbye Larsen Colleen Reichmuth Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays |
topic_facet |
sound production acoustic impulse amplitude marine mammal Odobenus rosmarus Science Q |
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 |
Ole Næsbye Larsen Colleen Reichmuth |
author_facet |
Ole Næsbye Larsen Colleen Reichmuth |
author_sort |
Ole Næsbye Larsen |
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 |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210197 https://doaj.org/article/b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 |
genre |
Odobenus rosmarus walrus* |
genre_facet |
Odobenus rosmarus walrus* |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 8, Iss 6 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.210197 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.210197 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/b7f4694b3dba4878987fb10d3e68d7a0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210197 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
210197 |
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1766159825484382208 |