The use of body fluids: These objects are collected earwax from blue whales. That is correct, these
The use of body fluids: These objects are collected earwax from blue whales. That is correct, these woody looking pieces are accumulated in the ear canal of a whale. They can become up to 45 centimeters in length and just like wood you can count the age rings of the whales wax to determine its age and life cycle. You might be thinking that all that wax would impact their hearing negatively, but it actually works as a built-in hearing aid. The density of the earwax that sits in the ear canal is similar to the density of water. The similar densities allow sound to travel through the ear canal into the inner ear unimpeded—something that would be impossible if the ear was filled with air. (From the Smithsonian museum collection) -- source link
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