Most of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean. This vast expanse of water still holds many mysteries. One such mystery is what some people have dubbed the loneliest whale, or the 52-hertz whale.
Blue whales are the largest and loudest mammals on earth. They belong to a subclass of whales called Mysticeti, more commonly known as baleen whales. There are 14 known species of baleen whales. These whales communicate through low-frequency songs that can be heard for hundreds of miles. Whale songs tend to be in a specific frequency range for each species, and scientists can even detect different dialects among the whales.
During the Cold War, the US Navy placed hydrophones along the Pacific coast to detect Soviet submarines. These hydrophones did not just pick up submarine noises. They also recorded passing ships, tectonic plate shifts, and whale song. After the Cold War, some of these recordings were declassified and made available to researchers. That’s when scientists noticed something odd, a whale song that was higher than any known species.
The sound was first recorded in 1989. Researchers have determined that the sound is coming from one individual. It has never been seen, but from recordings, it appears to migrate in patterns similar to those of a blue whale or a fin whale, leading some to call it Blue 52. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution tracked the whale for over a decade. No other whale ever responded to Blue 52 at the 52-Hz frequency or any other frequency.
Scientists have different theories as to why this whale is singing at a higher frequency. It could be a member of an unknown species. Or it may have a mutation or malformation that causes it to sing at a higher frequency. Another popular theory is that it is a very rare, but not unheard of, hybrid between a blue and a fin whale.
While he (or she) has been called the loneliest whale, he may not be that lonely at all. Other whales can hear Blue 52’s calls, and they share many characteristics with blue whale song. If it is a bluefin hybrid, its life span is expected to be between 70-90 years. So scientists hopefully still have a few decades to find this anomalous creature. Though spotting it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Crystal Kelly is a feature writer for Bizarre Bytes with those unusual facts that you only need to know for Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, or to stump your in-laws.
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