Rapid Fire
Sperm Whales
- 18 May 2024
- 1 min read
Researchers investigating the Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus), have outlined the fundamental aspects of their potential communication methods for the first time.
- Sperm whales utilise rapid clicks underwater, resembling the sound of an exceptionally loud zipper, for communication and echolocation purposes, aiding in prey tracking.
- These clicks are thought to constitute a "phonetic alphabet" enabling the whales to construct words and phrases.
- The sperm whale is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly.
- They are the largest of the toothed whales and have one of the widest global distributions of any marine mammal species.
- They are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
- They have the largest brains of any animal and live in matriarchal groups of about 10.
- They are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, mentioned in Appendix I of CITES and included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
