Study: Male leopard seals attract females with juvenile melodies, and each male has "its own song.

A study published on Thursday in the journal “Scientific Reports” found that male leopard seals “sing” melodies similar in composition to children’s songs for up to 13 hours when diving in the icy waters of Antarctica. Researchers discovered that all leopard seals use the same five “notes,” but each male arranges these notes in a unique way to compose its own song. While scientists hypothesized that males use these songs to attract females and ward off rival males.

A study was published on Thursday in the journal “Scientific Reports” comparing the structure of the “song” of leopard seals with the songs of other animals and with the melodies of musicians like The Beatles and Mozart.

The study found that male leopard seals “sing” melodies similar in structure to children’s songs for up to 13 hours when diving in the icy waters of Antarctica, and scientists suggested that the purpose of this is to attract females and ward off competing males.

Lucinda Chambers, a PhD student in bioacoustics at the University of New South Wales and the lead author of the study, noted that people are often surprised when they hear the “unfamiliar” calls and chirps of leopard seals. She noted that they “sound more like sound effects from a 1980s sci-fi movie.”

PhD student in bioacoustics at the University of New South Wales and lead author of the study, Lucinda Chambers, noted that people are often surprised when they hear the “unfamiliar” calls and chirps of leopard seals. She noted that they “sound more like sound effects from a 1980s sci-fi movie.”

During the spring breeding season, the male dives and “sings” for two minutes before surfacing to breathe. He repeats this movement for up to 13 hours a day. Researchers discovered that all leopard seals use the same five “notes,” but each male arranges these notes in a unique way to compose its own song. Chambers added, “We believe they use this structure to announce their identity, as if they are calling their name into the air.”

Ocean Nightingale
The team analyzed recordings of 26 leopard seals, captured during the 1990s on the eastern coast of Antarctica, by study co-author Tracy Rogers from the University of New South Wales. Rogers said, “They are like the nightingales of the Southern Ocean.” She added, “During the breeding season, if you drop a sound device into the water anywhere in the area, you will hear it singing.”

Analysis of the tone sequences showed that they are less predictable than the songs of humpback whales or dolphin whistles but more predictable than the more complex music of the Beatles or Mozart. Chambers explained that it “falls into a category similar to songs sung by children.” She pointed out that this seems logical, because these songs are supposed to be simple enough for each leopard seal to remember their structure and repeat them daily. At the same time, each song should have enough uniqueness to distinguish it from the other males’ songs.

The evolution of singing

Leopard seals, the main predators in the waters of Antarctica, are characterized by being solitary and roaming vast areas. Researchers suggested that their singing has evolved to reach long distances as well.

Chambers explained that changing the pitch or frequency wouldn’t be of the same quality in such an environment.

Female leopard seals also sing sometimes, but the reason for this is unknown. The researcher speculated that their singing might have an educational purpose for their young, although such behavior has never been observed in wild animals. Another hypothesis is that it is a means of communication among themselves.