MCQ Detailed View

Animals use sound for communication, defense, and navigation. Among all creatures, marine animals produce the most powerful sounds because sound travels much farther in water than in air.The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is famous for its unique and powerful songs. These whales can produce sounds that reach 170–180 decibels (dB), which is extremely loud compared to most animals. Their calls can travel over hundreds of kilometers in the ocean, allowing males to attract mates and communicate across long distances. The complex patterns of humpback whale songs are often described as "music of the sea."

For comparison:

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  A donkey’s bray is loud on land, but it does not exceed 100 dB.

  
  


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  Monkeys, like howler monkeys, produce calls around 90–100 dB, which is loud but still far less powerful than whale songs.

  
  


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  The blue whale actually holds the record for the loudest sound in the animal kingdom at around 188 dB, but the humpback whale is also considered one of the loudest and most famous for its long-distance communication.

  
  

Scientists often highlight humpback whales because their songs are not only loud but also structured and musical, making them different from simple loud calls of other animals. These songs are repeated patterns of moans, cries, and howls that can last for hours.

Key Facts:

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  Humpback whale song: 170–180 dB

  
  


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  Blue whale call: up to 188 dB (loudest overall)

  
  


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  Human shouting: 70–90 dB

  
  


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  Howler monkey: 90–100 dB

  
  


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  Donkey bray: ~100 dB

  
  

Thus, the humpback whale is one of the loudest animals and produces some of the most remarkable sounds in the animal world, making option 3 the correct choice here