[wnkrshm]

What single-mode lasers do offer is a means of inconspicuous communication. If you can aim your communications channel at a receiver, you cannot easily be detected.

But life could do similar things with collimating reflectors, even for sound. Are there organisms that use geometry to shape sound to send a signal? I'm only aware of ones that use geometry to boost/tune their reception (e.g. owls).

Edit: Dolphins apparently

[TheSpiceIsLife]

> Are there organisms that use geometry to shape sound to send a signal?

Wouldn’t this include pretty much any animal than can vocalise?

[wnkrshm]

Technically yes but what I mean is: Are there organisms that shape that sound into a tightly focused beam, to be able to only address the receivers they aim at?

[pfdietz]

Bats, dolphins. Dolphins even used focused beams of high intensity sound to stun fish, I believe.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Are you talking about echo location? I don’t believe this is understood to be a form or communication?

[TheSpiceIsLife]

I’m being lazy here, but isn’t this what happens when you cup your hands over someone’s ears to whisper? Or ever just turn to the person and talk quietly.