An optical telemetry device to identify which dolphin produces a sound

J Acoust Soc Am. 1985 Nov;78(5):1892-5. doi: 10.1121/1.392777.

Abstract

A small telemetry device, called a "vocalight," was designed for attachment to a dolphin's head using a suction cup. The vocalight lights up a variable number of light-emitting diodes depending upon the loudness of sounds received at a hydrophone within the suction cup. If vocalights matched for sensitivity are put on each dolphin within a captive group, observers can identify which dolphin produces a vocalization. Use of vocalights indicates that source levels of whistles from captive bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, range from approximately 125 to over 140 dB re: 1 microPa at 1 m.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dolphins / physiology*
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation
  • Telemetry / instrumentation*
  • Vocalization, Animal*