ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island of Dominica have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help better protect them.
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. While they still don’t know, they now think there are sets of clicks they believe make up a “phonetic alphabet” that the whales can use to build the very rough equivalent of what people think of as words and phrases.
Related articles:
Related suggestion:
Steer and Benson homer and the Reds get another solid start from Greene in a 3Brave Lupus score late to beat Wild Knights in Japan Rugby League One finalGulf War veteran played a key role in saving 'bionic' MP Craig Mackinlay from deathSouth Africa's main opposition party rallies support as it concludes election campaignBoy, 12, who plunged to his death from block of flats in southPrincess Charlene risks awkward runIndianapolis 500: A double bid, a whiff of scandal and the fear of rain as race day arrives4 scientists worldwide win Shaw Prize in 2024Papua New Guinea landslide: More than 670 people killed, UN agency estimatesHealth coach reveals how a cup of hot chocolate could be the key to weight loss
0.1029s , 6502.7578125 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort ,International Identities news portal