When thinking about the loudest animal in the world, most people might think of lions because of their roar or elephants because of their trumpeting. Very rarely someone will think of a marine animal, as it is common to believe the ocean is a quiet place. However, research in bioacoustics reveals a surprising variety of loud vocalizers across different animal groups, both in air and water. Surprisingly, the loudest animals in the world are marine animals.
According to the research carried out a short three years ago, by Lasse Jakobsen, Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard, Peter Møller Juhl, and Coen P. H. Elemans, the loudest animal in the world is the Sperm Whale.
Read below to learn more about the loudest animals in land, air, and water! As well as the importance of sound amongst animal species.
Jump links
- Identifying What is the Loudest Animal in the World
- Factors Influencing Loudness
- The Importance of Loudness in Animal Communication
- Physical and Physiological Constraints to Sound
Something that we are curious about is if animals can negatively affect our hearing. Like, if I’m diving and some of the animals mentioned below make one of their characteristic sounds, will that affect my hearing? Writing this blog post we even learned the high decibels some birds can reach, Will I go deaf after prolonged exposure to nature walks? We asked Lasse Jakobsen about it, the lead researcher of the paper we used as a source of this blog post, and we are still awaiting his response. We will update this blog post to include his answer as soon as we receive it. If you want to know when that will happen, follow us on Instagram to be up to speed.
If you are new here, thank you for being here, we upload a new blog post every week. Some other publications that highlight interesting research are:
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- Sea Level Rise Threatens Sea Turtles: New Research Findings
Identifying What is the Loudest Animal in the World
Researchers have been diligently measuring the source levels (SLs)1 of animal vocalizations to determine which species produce the highest sound levels. This task isn’t straightforward, as conditions in both laboratory and field settings can vary significantly, making precise comparisons challenging. On the research we are using as the source of this blog post, only the loudest four species within each taxon were included to avoid overrepresentation of species with lower SLs. Special attention was given to bats and toothed whales due to the unique demands of echolocation on their sound production systems.
Loudest Animal in Land and Air
In terrestrial environments, birds and mammals are the loudest.
- The White Bellbird (Procnias albus) claims the top spot with a staggering 125 decibels, outshouting other birds and mammals.
- Elephants and bats are not far behind, producing sounds around 120 decibels.
- Amphibians, like certain frog species, can reach sound levels of 110 decibels, while the loudest reptiles, the alligators, produce sounds around 105 decibels.
- Interestingly, cicadas, the loudest insects, generate sound of 102 decibels.
Loudest Animal in Water
In aquatic environments, the stakes are even higher. Marine mammals, particularly toothed whales, dominate the list of the loudest underwater vocalizers.
- The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) tops the list with echolocation clicks that can reach an astonishing 236 decibels. These high-intensity clicks are crucial for their echolocation, enabling them to hunt in the deep, dark ocean.
- The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the loudest baleen whale, produces sounds at 203 decibels.
- Among fish, the black drum (Pogonias cromis) reaches 183 decibels, and even the small pistol shrimp (Synalpheus parneomeris) produces sounds at similar levels.
Factors Influencing Loudness
The research also delves into the factors influencing these extraordinary sound levels. The loudest animals in land and air, regardless of size or frequency, produce maximum SLs of around 120 decibels. This surprising consistency suggests that various clades of animals have converged on similar maximum SLs.
In water, however, the scenario is different. The SLs are significantly higher due to the medium’s properties. Toothed whales are exceptionally efficient and directional sound emitters, which explains their high SLs compared to other aquatic animals. The ka product, which represents the acoustic size of an emitter, also plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency and directivity of sound radiation.
The Importance of Loudness in Animal Communication
Loud vocalizations play vital roles in various aspects of animal behavior, from mating calls to territory defense and social bonding. For instance, the White Bellbird uses its powerful calls to attract mates, while elephants rely on their deep rumbles to communicate over long distances within their herds. Similarly, marine mammals use their loud vocalizations for echolocation, navigation, and maintaining social structures.
Physical and Physiological Constraints to Sound
Despite the impressive loudness of these vocalizations, there are inherent physical and physiological constraints that limit how loud an animal can be. According to the research by Jakobsen et al (2021), factors such as body size, lung capacity, and the mechanics of sound-producing structures all play a role in determining the maximum sound pressure level an animal can achieve. For example, larger animals generally have more powerful vocal apparatuses, enabling them to produce louder sounds. However, the efficiency of sound transmission in different mediums (air vs. water) also significantly impacts the perceived loudness of these vocalizations.
Conclusion
The study by Jakobsen et al (2021) highlights the impressive range of animal vocalization mechanisms across different environments. While the White Bellbird is the loudest animal in the world in the air, the sperm whale reigns supreme as the loudest animal in the world underwater, air and land. Understanding these mechanisms not only fascinates us but also provides deeper insights into the complex interplay between anatomy, environment, and the survival needs of these incredible animals.
For more detailed information on the constraints and mechanics of producing high sound pressures in animal vocalizations, refer to the comprehensive study by Jakobsen, L., Juhl, P. M., & Elemans, C. P. (2021). How Loud Can you go? Physical and Physiological Constraints to Producing High Sound Pressures in Animal Vocalizations. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 657254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.657254.
Footnotes
- In simple terms, source level refers to the intensity of sound emitted by a source, typically underwater, measured in decibels (dB). It’s a standardized way to describe how loud a sound source is, assuming it behaves like a single point emitting sound equally in all directions at a specific distance (usually 1 meter). This metric helps in comparing and understanding the power of different sound sources, especially in applications like sonar where precise measurement and calculation of sound propagation are crucial. ↩︎