Echolocation click sounds from wild inshore finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides sunameri) with comparisons to the sonar of riverine N. p. asiaeorientalis

J Acoust Soc Am. 2007 Jun;121(6):3938-46. doi: 10.1121/1.2721658.

Abstract

Acoustic signals from wild Neophocaena phocaenoides sunameri were recorded in the waters off Liao-dong-wan Bay located in Bohai Sea, China. Signal analysis shows that N. p. sunameri produced "typical" phocoenid clicks. The peak frequencies f(p) of clicks ranged from 113 to 131 kHz with an average of 121+/-3.78 kHz (n=71). The 3 dB bandwidths delta f ranged from 10.9 to 25.0 kHz with an average of 17.5+/-3.30 kHz. The signal durations delta t ranged from 56 to 109 micros with an average 80+/-11.49 micros. The number of cycles N(c) ranged from 7 to 13 with an average of 9+/-1.48. With increasing peak frequency there was a faint tendency of decrease in bandwidth, which implies a nonconstant value of f(p)/delta f. On occasion there were some click trains with faint click energy presenting below 70 kHz, however, it was possibly introduced by interference effect from multiple pulses structures. The acoustic parameters of the clicks were compared between the investigated population and a riverine population of finless porpoise.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • China
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Fresh Water
  • Porpoises / physiology*
  • Sound
  • Species Specificity
  • Vocalization, Animal*