Huge Rorqual Whales Display 'Bungee Cord' Nerves: Study

Rorqual whales have bungee cords, a unique nerve tissue that is a lot more advanced to that of the human beings, Current Biology journal featured. Wayne Vogl, a cellular and physiological sciences researcher from British Columbia's University explained, "This discovery was totally unexpected and unlike other nerve structures we've seen in vertebrates, which are of a more fixed length," Eureka Alert reported. "The rorquals' bulk feeding mechanism required major changes in anatomy of the tongue and mouth blubber to allow large deformation. Now we recognize that it also required major modifications in the nerves in these tissues so they could also withstand the deformation," he added. Vogal is referring to the way baleen whales' method of feeding. A traditional baleen whale can be likened to a vacuum. When it opens its maw, it will first take up water, stretching its mouth muscles' elasticity to its limits. It will then bubble the scooped water via its comb-like iconic tooth plates, leaving nothing but small fishes, copepods, and krill preys only. To maximize its potential of having elastic mouth muscles, this anatomical part boasts structural modifications that have not been detected in toothed whale species and having "bungee-like" nerves are one of its major adaptations. In humans, overextending usually damages nerves. Rorquals, on the other hand, feature nerve cells enclosed in a central core in a manner that protects it despite overextension movements. Nick Pyenson from the Natural History of Smithsonian's National Museum said, "This new discovery has only proven that all we have is superficial knowledge only of the ocean's largest animals today. Our findings can be added to the lengthening list of adaptations which whales have developed to better respond to its environment's new challenges."