Mystery of whale song unraveled by scientists, study says

Story by By Amarachi Orie, CNN • 3w • 4 min read

Eerie, fascinating and at times unnerving, whale songs are one of the most mysterious sounds to have been heard reverberating through the ocean.
How baleen whales, which include humpback whales, are able to sing underwater has eluded scientists since whale songs were first discovered more than 50 years ago.

While toothed whales, which include dolphins and killer whales, developed a vocal organ in their nose to produce sound, baleen whales are thought to use a larynx — or voice box — in their throat to do so, according to a new study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. A baleen whale’s larynx is shaped differently from other mammals. It has long, rigid, cylinder-like cartilages that form a U shape. This structural adaptation allows the leviathan to breathe massive amounts of air in and out when they go to the surface, according to the study.

In the respiratory tract, the evolved nasal and oral plugs protect the airways from water when the marine mammal breathes and eats.
Air sacs also evolved in a way that may allow a baleen whale to recycle air while creating vocal sounds, according to researchers.

Unlocking how whales vocalize could help scientists gain a better understanding of how human-made noise pollution in marine waters impacts the sea giants.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/mystery-of-whale-song-unraveled-by-scientists-study-says/ar-BB1iIVt7