Bowhead whales are truly magnificent beast . reach a staggering20 meters(65 feet ) in length , they aresecond only in sizeto the iconic low whale . Their ginormous head , which make up around one - third of their total body duration , act as sledgehammers to smash through internal-combustion engine up to an impressive20 centimeters(8 inch ) in thickness , although some Eskimos claim to have seen them break up through 60 centimeters ( 2 feet ) of ice .
Discoveries ofancient harpoonsembedded in their material body evoke that these mighty animals could last to be close to 200 , making them the longest know mammal known . But perhaps their most intriguing feature is their singular singing ability . These animals are live to have the most telling song repertory of all heavyweight , and scientist have just carry off to record12 unique songsbeing sing during their one-year migration . Alongside hypnotize us with their haunting vocalizing , thediscoveryis helping moult visible light on how these mysterious creatures transmit .
Bowhead whales are tricky animals to canvas . They are only found in theseasonally ice - wrap up Northern Hemisphere , in cold Arctic urine , mean it’simpossible to track them visuallythroughout the year . A much more effective strategy is to listen in on them by install underwater mike , or hydrophones , in the ocean for extended periods of time , allowing researchers to listen in to their chatter and monitor population .
This mere proficiency was utilise by the author of the latest study , who prefer to focus on one especial universe of bowhead hulk during theirannual saltation migrationalong the coast of Alaska . These animate being go to theBering - Chukchi - Beaufort population , one of four population presently recognize base on their geographic dispersion . This universe , alongside the Eastern Canada - West Greenland population , is slowly beginning to increase after being dramatically reduced by commercial-grade whaling in the 1600s to 1800s .
According to the written report , which has been published inMarine Mammal Science , during 95 hours of recordings , 12 unparalleled song types produce by at least 32 individuals were observe . This is the greatest number of unparalleled songs so far record in this mathematical group during this particular point . Althoughprevious workidentified more than 60 unique songs , the study catamenia was significantly long , last one year .
While other whale species may be more far-famed for their singing abilities , such as the humpback whale whale , it seems that the bowhead hulk has the greatest repertoire of songs . Furthermore , according to study Colorado - author Kathleen Stafford , these whales are alone in that they transfer their songs both from year to year and within the year . Why bowheads exhibit this behavior is unreadable , but Stafford is endeavoring to chance out . What is hump , however , is that these songs can be learnt from one another , and that they are probably used as social song or a fitness show .
Scientists are alsopuzzledas to why these animals babble out such a wide range of songs , but some consider it could be due to the growth jet that populations are now experiencing , which is of course groovy newsworthiness . Since hydrophones can be depart in the H2O for over a year , it is likely that we will hear of many more unique call in the amount years .
[ viaBBC EarthandMarine Mammal Science ]
