Scientists finally solve the mystery of the horse whinny
Reported by ScienceDaily · February 25 at 10:01 AM · Summary by Hoofdeck
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen report in Current Biology that a horse's whinny combines two sounds at once: a low tone made by vibrating the vocal folds and a high tone made by a whistle inside the larynx. The team confirmed the whistle using horse larynges removed after death and airflow tests with helium.
Background
Biphonation, where a single call carries two independent frequency components, is rare in mammals. Laryngeal whistles have been described in small rodents such as rats and mice, and the mechanism works like a human whistle except that turbulent airflow occurs inside the larynx. Research of this kind usually builds on studies of vocal anatomy and acoustics rather than changes to animal care.
Why it matters
Understanding how horses vocalize helps owners interpret the emotional messages a whinny may carry, such as calls to herd members or signs of stress.
What you can do
Pay attention to changes in your horse's whinnies and body language, and tell your vet if vocalizing becomes unusual or persistent.
Written by Hoofdeck from the report by ScienceDaily. Background is general information, not advice about your horse; if you are worried, call your vet.