For nearly 20 years, scientists have been tracking the Steve Urkel of whales. He’s been navigating the oceans looking for a mate but his voice is too high – almost double the frequency for other whales of his species.
It sings at 52 Hertz, which is roughly the same frequency as the lowest note on a tuba, and much higher than its fellow whales, whose calls fall in the 15 to 25 Hertz range.
It also swims along a different migration route making it even harder to find a companion. His voice is getting deeper as he ages, however, and I’m hoping he’ll find that special baleen who’ll appreciate him for all his high-pitched worth.
The Loneliest Whale in the World – Good via Kottke