Sperm whales have long been admired for their long lifespans, intelligence, and social behavior. However, researchers have always been intrigued by the apparent simplicity of their vocalizations despite the complexity of their lives. A new study led by Ph.D. student Pratyusha Sharma from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab has challenged this perception.
The traditional understanding of sperm whale vocalizations was that they were repetitive and lacked variation. Sharma’s team introduced a new method of analyzing the whales’ communication, revealing a high level of complexity previously unseen. The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that sperm whale vocalizations consist of at least 150 distinct patterns called codas.
Instead of examining codas in isolation, the researchers focused on how they related to each other. By considering variables such as rhythm, tempo, sound length, and additional sounds that could alter a coda’s meaning, the scientists uncovered a “sperm whale phonetic alphabet” for the first time. This breakthrough sheds new light on the intricacies of sperm whale communication and challenges previous assumptions about these majestic creatures.
