Sperm Whales: The Phonetic Alphabet of the Deep Sea

Sperm whales, like many other whales and dolphins, communicate through rapid clicks that serve as echolocation to help them track prey. Researchers in Dominica have described how these clicks may form a phonetic alphabet that whales use to communicate. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers analyzed over 8,700 fragments of sperm whale clicks, known as codas, and identified four basic elements that make up this phonetic alphabet.

Lead researcher Pratyusha Sharma suggested that whales could use this alphabet in endless combinations, giving them access to a vast communication system similar to a large dictionary. Sperm whales have the largest brain of all animals on the planet and live in matriarchal groups of about 10 individuals. They can grow up to 18 meters long and dive nearly a thousand meters to hunt squid. Scientists set up an underwater recording studio with microphones at different depths to capture whale clicks and study their communication patterns.

Researchers hope that by deciphering sperm whale communication systems, they can better understand these ocean giants and contribute to their conservation efforts. Sperm whales are classified as vulnerable, and the study of their communication could reveal parallels with human language and society. While much is still unknown about sperm whale communication, this research provides a promising step in unraveling the mysteries of whale language.