Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

31.3K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
31.3K
Tooth Anatomy01:21

Tooth Anatomy

1.9K
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
1.9K
The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

50.2K
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
50.2K
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

42.8K
Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
42.8K
Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

44.2K
Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
44.2K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

47.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
47.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The origin and evolution of amphibious hearing in pinnipeds.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Monogamy is necessary but not sufficient for eusociality in African mole-rats (Rodentia: Bathyergidae).

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2026
Same author

Cell-derived Nanoparticles Provide a Robust Platform to Manufacture Therapeutic T cells.

Research square·2026
Same author

The petrosal and bony labyrinth of extinct horses (Perissodactyla, Equidae) and their implications for perissodactyl evolution.

PeerJ·2026
Same author

A new ecomorph of Nimravidae, and the early macrocarnivorous niche exploration in Carnivora.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2025
Same author

An integrated enzymatic and computational pipeline for quantifying off-target base-editing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.2K

Convergent evolution in toothed whale cochleae.

Travis Park1, Bastien Mennecart2,3, Loïc Costeur2

  • 1Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, London, UK. t.park@nhm.ac.uk.

BMC Evolutionary Biology
|October 26, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Toothed whales evolved diverse cochlear shapes due to echolocation. Convergent evolution in cochlear morphology occurred in deep-diving sperm whales and beaked whales, driven by acoustic environments.

Keywords:
ConvergenceEcholocationEcomorphologyInner earOdontocetiPhylogenetic comparative methods

More Related Videos

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

1.8K
Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks
08:51

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Published on: May 13, 2016

14.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.2K
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

1.8K
Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks
08:51

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Published on: May 13, 2016

14.5K

Area of Science:

  • Marine Mammal Evolution
  • Bioacoustics
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • Odontocetes (toothed whales) exhibit remarkable species diversity, largely attributed to their sophisticated echolocation abilities.
  • Echolocation, a biological sonar using high-frequency sound, is crucial for navigation and foraging in diverse marine environments.
  • The widespread use of echolocation suggests potential convergent evolution in the cochlear structures of toothed whales.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate convergent evolution of cochlear shape in odontocetes.
  • To identify specific odontocete lineages exhibiting convergent cochlear morphology.
  • To determine if environmental factors correlate with observed patterns of convergence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the SURFACE method to fit Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) models.
  • Applied stepwise AIC (Akaike Information Criterion) to identify convergent evolutionary regimes.
  • Analyzed odontocete phylogeny to statistically assess convergence in cochlear shape.

Main Results:

  • Identified three significant convergent cochlear shape regimes: beaked whales, sperm whales, and pygmy/dwarf sperm whales with Dall's porpoise.
  • Found that river dolphins, despite convergent external morphology, lack convergent cochlear shapes.
  • Correlated habitat and dive types with convergence in the sperm whale and beaked whale lineages.

Conclusions:

  • The deep-ocean acoustic environment likely drives cochlear shape convergence in sperm and beaked whales.
  • Cochlear morphology can serve as an indicator for predicting the ecology of extinct cetaceans.
  • Convergent evolution of cochlear shape is a significant factor in the adaptive radiation of toothed whales.