The ears of most whales are very different from those of other mammals. There is no ear
flap, or even an ear canal opening, as we have. In water, sounds travel as ripples of water
pressure that vibrate a channel of fat and bone in the whale's lower jaw - this is the' route
for sounds entering the ear. These vibrations are passed on to tympanic bones (rather than our
own flexible skin-like eardrum), which, in turn, pass' them to the nerve centre ofthe inner ear.
Whales use many types of sounds for communication, especially when males 'sing' at breeding
time. In addition, toothed whales - from
dolphins rosperm whales - use them,
like bat squeaks and clicks in the air, for the echo-location of prey and obstacles.
The ears of most whales are very different from those of other mammals. There is no ear flap, or even an ear canal opening, as we have. In water, sounds travel as ripples of water pressure that vibrate a channel of fat and bone in the whale's lower jaw - this is the' route for sounds entering the ear. These vibrations are passed on to tympanic bones (rather than our own flexible skin-like eardrum), which, in turn, pass' them to the nerve centre ofthe inner ear. Whales use many types of sounds for communication, especially when males 'sing' at breeding time. In addition, toothed whales - from dolphins rosperm whales - use them, like bat squeaks and clicks in the air, for the echo-location of prey and obstacles.
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