Scientists have long been puzzled by the apparent simplicity of sperm whale vocalizations, despite their complex lives. However, a new study led by Ph.D. student Pratyusha Sharma from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab challenges this perception.
Traditionally, sperm whale vocalizations were thought to be repetitive and lacking in variation. But 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 relate 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.