An unusual noise that was recorded near the Mariana Trench could be a never-before-heard whale call.
Called the "Western Pacific Biotwang," this newly discovered call might be from a minke whale, a type of baleen whale, according to the researchers who documented the vocalization. A baleen whale has plates of whalebone in the mouth for straining plankton from the water.
The Mariana Trench stretches 1,500 mi (2500 km) in an arc that is edged by the islands of Guam and Saipan. Its deepest point is known as the Challenger Deep, some 35,756 feet (10,890 m) — or nearly 7 miles (11 km) — beneath the surface of the sea. The trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
Lasting between 2.5 and 3.5 seconds, the five-part call includes deep moans at frequencies as low as 38 hertz and a metallic finale that pulses as high as 8,000 hertz.
“It’s very distinct, with all these crazy parts,” said Dr. Sharon Nieukirk, senior faculty research assistant in marine bioacoustics at Oregon State U.“The low-frequency moaning part is typical of baleen whales, and it’s that kind of twangy sound that makes it unique. We don’t find many new baleen whale calls.”
Recorded via passive acoustic ocean gliders, which are instruments that can travel autonomously for months at a time and dive up to 1,000 meters, the Western Pacific Biotwang most closely resembles the so-called “Star Wars” sound produced by dwarf minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia, researchers say.
This article describes a recording of the new Western Pacific Biotwang. You may hear the 1 minute Biotwang here.
"We don't really know that much about minke whale distribution at low latitudes," Dr. Nieukirk said. "The species is the smallest of the baleen whales, doesn't spend much time at the surface, has an inconspicuous blow, and often lives in areas where high seas make sighting difficult. But they call frequently, making them good candidates for acoustic studies."
"The call still needs to be translated. Most baleen whales use specific vocalizations for seasonal breeding and feeding, but this call — since it seems to occur all year — may have a complex function," the researchers said.
Biotwang, Biotwang, Biotwang--what a fun word to say!
Steph
Called the "Western Pacific Biotwang," this newly discovered call might be from a minke whale, a type of baleen whale, according to the researchers who documented the vocalization. A baleen whale has plates of whalebone in the mouth for straining plankton from the water.

The Mariana Trench stretches 1,500 mi (2500 km) in an arc that is edged by the islands of Guam and Saipan. Its deepest point is known as the Challenger Deep, some 35,756 feet (10,890 m) — or nearly 7 miles (11 km) — beneath the surface of the sea. The trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

“It’s very distinct, with all these crazy parts,” said Dr. Sharon Nieukirk, senior faculty research assistant in marine bioacoustics at Oregon State U.“The low-frequency moaning part is typical of baleen whales, and it’s that kind of twangy sound that makes it unique. We don’t find many new baleen whale calls.”
Recorded via passive acoustic ocean gliders, which are instruments that can travel autonomously for months at a time and dive up to 1,000 meters, the Western Pacific Biotwang most closely resembles the so-called “Star Wars” sound produced by dwarf minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia, researchers say.
This article describes a recording of the new Western Pacific Biotwang. You may hear the 1 minute Biotwang here.
"We don't really know that much about minke whale distribution at low latitudes," Dr. Nieukirk said. "The species is the smallest of the baleen whales, doesn't spend much time at the surface, has an inconspicuous blow, and often lives in areas where high seas make sighting difficult. But they call frequently, making them good candidates for acoustic studies."
"The call still needs to be translated. Most baleen whales use specific vocalizations for seasonal breeding and feeding, but this call — since it seems to occur all year — may have a complex function," the researchers said.
Biotwang, Biotwang, Biotwang--what a fun word to say!
Steph
