Sound waves stun prey: bottlenose dolphin

The members of bottlenose dolphin pods stun prey by emitting low-frequency sound waves.

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Use of ultrasound as a localized anesthetic.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"More recent, but equally intriguing, is the discovery that dolphins may use not only very high- but also very low-frequency sound to stun their prey. In 2000, Dr. Vincent Janik of St. Andrews University in Scotland was studying bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Scotland's Moray Firth. He announced that they give voice to a distinctive low-frequency braying noise almost exclusively at feeding times. Since dolphins themselves are not sensitive to low sonic frequencies, Janik speculates that the dolphins emit these particular sound waves to stun their prey." (Shuker 2001:23)

About the inspiring organism

bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821)
[bottlenosed dolphin]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Marine Coastal/Supratidal, Marine Neritic, Marine Oceanic, Wetlands

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Use of ultrasound as a localized anesthetic.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Medicine, mining

Experts

Sea Mammal Research Unit
Vincent Janik
School of Biology, University of St. Andrews

References

Shuker, KPN. 2001. The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature. London: Marshall Editions Ltd. 240 p.

Sound waves stun prey: bottlenose dolphin

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