Marine Bio

One of my favorite classes I’ve ever taken was Marine Biology in high school. One specific topic caught my attention, whales and their ability to use echolocation. 

Night Vision

Echolocation is a method toothed whales and dolphins use and rely on to help navigate their way through the sea. They also use echolocation to hunt in the pitch dark. The whale produces high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects and are reflected back to the whale. This helps the whale navigate its way through the water as if it could see the layout of the land. 

Nothing New 

Whales and dolphins are not the only animals that use echolocation. There are thousands of species that use this such as bats, toothed whales, and some small mammals. Animals have several methods for echolocation, from vibrating their throats to flapping their wings.

How Exactly? 

Dolphins and other toothed whales echolocate through a specialized organ, dorsal bursae. The dorsal bursae sits at the top of their head, very close to the blowhole. A fat deposit is in this area, called the melon, which decreases resistance to soundwaves, between the dolphin’s body and the water, making the sound clearer. Another fat deposit from a whale’s lower jaw up to its ear clarifies the echo that returns from prey, such as fish or squid. This ultimately helps with hunting and navigation.