Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays.

ABSTRACT: Male walruses produce some of the longest continuous reproductive displays known among mammals to convey their physical fitness to potential rivals and possibly to potential mates. Here, we document the ability of a captive walrus to produce intense, rhythmic sounds through a non-vocal pathway involving deliberate, regular collision of the fore flippers. High-speed videography linked to an acoustic onset marker revealed sound production through cavitation, with the acoustic impulse generated by each forceful clap exceeding a peak-to-peak sound level of 200 dB re. 1 µPa. This clapping display is in some ways quite similar to the knocking display more commonly associated with walruses in rut but is produced through a very different mechanism and with much higher amplitudes. While this clappi

SUBMITTER: Larsen ON 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8242830 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature