Sperm whales

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Context:

• MIT scientists decode basic elements of the communication system and how they talk among sperm whales.

Details:

• In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers analyzed more than 8,700 snippets of sperm whale clicks, known as codas.
• Research has found four basic components they think make up this phonetic alphabet.
• This alphabet could then be used by the whales in an unlimited number of combinations.
• They do not have a fixed set of codas and this gives the whales access to a much larger communication system.

Significance:

• The research is important and sperm whales seem to have sophisticated social ties and deciphering their communication systems could reveal parallels with human language and society.
• If we can decode the communication system of sperm whales we can use the knowledge for conservation purposes, like minimizing their risk of being hit by ships or reducing ocean noise levels.

How Whales communicate:

• Like many whales and dolphins, sperm whales are highly social mammals and communicate by squeezing air through their respiratory systems to make strings of rapid clicks that can sound like an extremely loud zipper underwater.
• The clicks are also used as a form of echolocation to help them track their prey.
• Scientists have been trying for decades to understand what those clicks might mean, with only minimal progress.

About Sperm whales

• The sperm whale or cachalot is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator.
• It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia
• They have the biggest brains of any animal on the planet at up to 20 pounds, as much as six times the size of an average human brain.
• They live in matriarchal groups of about 10 and sometimes meet up with hundreds or thousands of other whales.
• Sperm whales can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) long and dive to nearly 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) to hunt for squid.
• They sleep vertically, in groups.
• They are classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Scientific name: Physeter macrocephalus
• Gestation period: 14 – 16 months
• Length: 16 m (Adult)
• Class: Mammalia
• Domain: Eukaryota

Source:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/how-do-sperm-whales-talk-to-each-other-mit-scientists-decode-basic-elements-of-communication-system-101715158351469.html

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about sperm whales: Sperm whales primarily feed on small fish and crustaceans found in deep ocean waters. Sperm whales communicate using complex vocalizations known as clicks, which they produce using a specialized organ called the melon. Sperm whales are the largest toothed predators on Earth, with adult males reaching lengths of up to 20 meters. Sperm whales have a lifespan of up to 80 years and exhibit complex social structures within their pods. How many of the above statements are correct? A) Only one B) Only two C) Only three D) All four Answer: B