It’s Not Gunshots! It’s Humpback Sounds, Say Researchers

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The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is one of the larger rorqual species, with adults ranging in length from 12–16 m and weighing around 25–30 metric tons. Photo: Stock

In 2019, researchers sailed to a sprawling seamount off the coast of South Africa, and lowered hydrophones to the seafloor. They picked up all kinds of noises: waves, the crackling of the reef, dolphin clicks and whistles, and an assortment of humpback whale calls. Mixed in with the humpback sounds were noises reminiscent of gunshots. Right whales are known to make gunshot sounds, but none were around at the time of recording. So were these mysterious sounds coming from humpbacks?

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