Emitting calls that clock up more than 188 decibels (dB), the blue whale is by far the loudest animal on the planet – even louder than the roar of a jet plane taking off (120dB). The second loudest, and the loudest terrestrial species, is the howler monkey.
How loud is the howler monkey?
The rather sinister, guttural croak of this large South American primate reaches an impressive 140dB, far exceeding the 70dB achieved by even the most ear-splitting of human shouts.
How are howler monkeys able to scream so loudly?
It’s a specialised skeletal adaptation that allows howler monkeys to produce so much noise. Their hyoid – the U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue – is enlarged, creating a throat sac that resonates vocalisations. The adaptation considerably amplifies and deepens their pitch.
Why do howler monkeys scream?
Howlers use a variety of calls –including barks, grunts, and woofs – to communicate their location to other members of their troop, protect their territory from intruders and guard their mates. There is even some evidence that females howl to incite male competition.
Whales have their own alphabet, challenging the view that complex communication is unique to humans, finds new study https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/what-are-old-world-monkeys
Routinely emitted at sunrise and sunset, and additionally as a reaction to surprise or disturbance, these low-frequency calls can last for up to eight seconds and travel further than high frequencies. This is especially the case in rainforest habitats, where sounds are quickly scattered and absorbed
by the dense vegetation.
BG
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