New publication: Analogy of the dolphin jaw to a metamaterial leaky wave antenna for sound directional detection

[Braulio Leon Lopez <>]

Dear colleagues,

My coautor and I are pleased to share our recent publication in the Journal of Sound and Vibration:

Romero-Vivas, E. & Leon-Lopez, B. (2025). Analogy of the dolphin jaw to a metamaterial leaky wave antenna for sound directional detection. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 118987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2025.118987

Abstract

The hollow jaws of dolphins are filled with specialised ‘acoustic fats’ that connect to the inner ear and are considered as the main sound receiving structures. The jaw, modelled as a periodic structure, has been proposed as a directional receiver at high echolocation frequencies (20 -150 kHz). Considering an array of scattering elements, a model had been proposed that generated an angular dependent band gap to locate the incoming echo. However, the jaw function at lower frequencies (4 – 20 kHz), is not clear, although it might aid in the acoustic localisation of signature whistles from conspecifics. Herein, an underwater test on a bottlenose dolphin jawbone filled with paraffin wax (density similar to acoustic fats) showed frequency responses shifting in spectral peaks as a function of the incoming signal angle at whistle fundamental frequencies. These spectral responses were found similar to those of an in air acoustic metamaterial leaky wave antenna for which signature whistles were presented. Therefore, it is suggested that the odontocete jaw, at low frequencies, might be analogous to an acoustic prism aiding to resolve the direction of arrival of whistle emissions.

You can access the full publication until 22th March 2025:

https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1kXkm,WhnXRQe

Best regards,

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Braulio León-López, PhD.

Postdoctoral Researcher (SECIHTI Fellowship)

Museo de Historia Natural / Grupo de Investigación en Acústica y Procesamiento de Señales

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR).

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