How do marine mammals primarily navigate and hunt?

Marine mammals primarily navigate and hunt using echolocation, which is a sophisticated biological sonar mechanism. This process involves emitting sound waves that travel through the water and bounce off objects, allowing the mammals to determine the location, distance, size, and shape of those objects based on the returning echoes. This ability is especially crucial in the dark or murky environments of the ocean where visibility is often limited.

Echolocation provides a significant advantage for hunting prey, as it enables marine mammals to detect and localize fast-moving or camouflaged animals efficiently. Many species, such as dolphins and certain types of whales, rely heavily on this technique for their survival and feeding strategies.

While tracking water currents, using visual signals, and following scent trails might play a role in the behavior of some marine animals, they are not the primary methods used by marine mammals for navigation and hunting as echolocation is.