{"id":9328,"title":"Orca Communication","description":"Communication lies at the core of orca social awareness. Family members are seldom out of hearing range of one another. Their calls, as loud as a jet plane\u2019s engines, echo over many miles in the ocean","content":"

Orca Communication<\/h2>

\"\"

<\/p>

Communication lies at the core of orca social awareness. Family members are seldom out of hearing range of one another. Their calls, as loud as a jet plane\u2019s engines, echo over many miles in the ocean. Everyone knows where he or she is and where everyone else are. Given the strength of their attachments to each other, this must have a very calming effect on them. Communication is an essential ingredient of
the glue that brings harmony to the orca community.<\/p>

Orcas make three types of vocalizations: clicks, whistles and pulsed calls. The clicks are part of the whale\u2019s sonar and are used for echlolocation: for finding and locating food sources, for defining other objects in the ocean and locating the whale in its environment. Whistles are typically continuous tone emissions that may last for many seconds.<\/p>

\"\"
<\/p>

Calls, simply put, are pulsed signals which have discrete patterns that can be recognized by ear and by spectrogram. They are the main component of the orca communication repertoire. There is variability within call types, even for different maternal, groups within pods and clans. This is a useful tool for identifying groups in the absence of visual identification e.g. at night or from remote locations. It has also been used to identify the pods and communities of orcas captured in the 1960s and \u201970s. The differences in vocal call types between clans does not seem to inhibit the various maternal groups and pods within a community from coming together and socializing.<\/p>

The role of these calls is not precisely known. However, the different calls are certainly a way for the whales to keep track of each other over large distances, in the dark, or when large congregations occur. Though it has not been demonstrated, there is certainly potential for communication of complex specific information in calls. Sometimes groups are very vocal and at other times the groups may be silent. The calls are not necessarily modified in sound level to accommodate whales travelling close together.<\/p>","urlTitle":"orca-communication","url":"\/blog\/orca-communication\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/orca-communication\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/wonplanet.co.uk\/blog\/orca-communication\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1609856913,"updatedAt":1657189369,"publishedAt":1612964492,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":103581,"name":"won-planet"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xsoarelctthrylrfez35xmoftfhs38gukxzc6jivo292kklb.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xsoarelctthrylrfez35xmoftfhs38gukxzc6jivo292kklb.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xsoarelctthrylrfez35xmoftfhs38gukxzc6jivo292kklb.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Orcas","metaDescription":"Orca Communication","keyPhraseCampaignId":2814,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":19239,"title":"The Sharks of the Galapagos Islands","url":"\/blog\/the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands\/","urlTitle":"the-sharks-of-the-galapagos-islands","division":103581,"description":"The most common of all the species found in the waters surrounding the islands are the Scalloped Hammerhead, Bullhead and Whale sharks.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/krzmqzwryimo6xd4ybobm44stx1ykeaiyvvvduoffephxa9a.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/krzmqzwryimo6xd4ybobm44stx1ykeaiyvvvduoffephxa9a.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":52541,"title":"The Tiny Pellets Causing a Big Problem \u2014 Understanding Nurdles and Their Impact on Marine Life","url":"\/blog\/the-tiny-pellets-causing-a-big-problem-understanding-nurdles-and-their-impact-on-marine-life\/","urlTitle":"the-tiny-pellets-causing-a-big-problem-understanding-nurdles-and-their-impact-on-marine-life","division":103581,"description":"Discover what nurdles are and why these tiny plastic pellets pose a huge threat to marine life. Learn how they impact seabirds, fish, and mammals \u2014 and how we can stop nurdle pollution together.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xyknydmtcqtwalaraqj3vfyvm6tr9g9b0ldptczvq3daq5m4.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xyknydmtcqtwalaraqj3vfyvm6tr9g9b0ldptczvq3daq5m4.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":52535,"title":"The Plankton Paradox: Tiny Drifters That Rule the Ocean","url":"\/blog\/the-plankton-paradox-tiny-drifters-that-rule-the-ocean\/","urlTitle":"the-plankton-paradox-tiny-drifters-that-rule-the-ocean","division":103581,"description":"Discover how plankton \u2014 the ocean\u2019s invisible drifters \u2014 create oxygen, regulate our climate, and form the foundation of all marine life. Learn about the \u201cPlankton Paradox\u201d and how protecting these tiny organisms helps protect our planet.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/6n7gk6otr9epwhxrietexo0y4gqmg6ie2zrar7ytpry0ikm1.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/6n7gk6otr9epwhxrietexo0y4gqmg6ie2zrar7ytpry0ikm1.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}