Sperm whales – the largest toothed whales – range widely over the deep ocean. They are famous for their long, deep dives in search of prey like squid, sharks, and deep-sea fish. Vocalizing is an important part of sperm whale behavior that scientists are eager to understand.
By studying the patterns and rhythms in recordings of whale speak, scientists discovered that sperm whales use sequences of click sounds to locate prey and communicate with other whales in their family groups. They may even have their own dialects!
New AI technology is allowing scientists to sift through recordings of sperm whale speak more quickly. This may lead to new insights into what sperm whales are saying to each other. Decoding whale communication could help us protect them, and perhaps even communicate with them.
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