Acoustic clutter field and echo reception by the dolphin

A model is considered for an acoustic field of echolocation-hampering reflections (clutter) from steel cylinders; its analysis reveals vast possibilities of improving the signal-to-noise ratio through clutter interference. Current models of dolphin hearing are collated with the acoustic clutter field. It is most likely that the lower jaw (mental) foramens take part in echo conduction to the cochlea. In this case the receiver aperture is determined by the size of the foramens, and the receiver base is the distance between them in the jaw halves; the adequacy of these parameters to the clutter field can substantially protect the echo reception in odontocetes against reverberation.