How do marine mammals produce sounds?
All species of marine mammals are known to make sound. Marine mammals produce sounds that are used for communication, feeding, and navigation. Almost all vocalizations are produced through the movement of air from one area of the head to another. In humans, air is moved from the lungs and across the vocal folds (also known as vocal cords). The vocal folds vibrate which produce sounds that we form into words and other communication signals (vocalizations). Marine mammals such as seals and sea lions can produce vocalizations using the same mechanisms as humans do. Other marine mammals such as dolphins and whales pass air through air sacs in their heads to produce vocalizations. These animals are not thought to produce sounds using their vocal folds. Marine mammals also have the capability to produce and use other sounds for acoustic communication. The animals may intentionally slap their bodies on the water or slap body parts together to make distinct sounds, like the sounds produced by
