Simultaneous production of low- and high-frequency sounds by neonatal finless porpoises

J Acoust Soc Am. 2008 Aug;124(2):716-8. doi: 10.1121/1.2945152.

Abstract

Phocoenids are generally considered to be nonwhistling species that produce only high-frequency pulsed sounds. Here our results show that neonatal finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) frequently produce clear low-frequency (2-3 kHz) pulsed signals, without distinct high-frequency energy, just after birth and can produce both low- (2-3 kHz) and high-frequency (>100 kHz) pulsed signals simultaneously until about 20 days postnatal. The results indicate that low-frequency signals of neonatal finless porpoises are not an early form of high-frequency signals and suggest that low- and high-frequency signals may be produced by different sound production mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Male
  • Porpoises / physiology*
  • Sound Spectrography
  • Time Factors
  • Vocalization, Animal*