Male Sperm Whales Blast 200-Decibel Slow Clicks Heard Up to 70 Kilometers
Updated
Updated · VICE · Aug 9
Male Sperm Whales Blast 200-Decibel Slow Clicks Heard Up to 70 Kilometers
2 articles · Updated · VICE · Aug 9
Summary
A new study recorded male sperm whales making “slow clicks” every 5 to 10 seconds in waters off the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Norway and Scotland.
At roughly 200 underwater decibels, the calls rank among the loudest mammal communication sounds and can travel as far as 70 kilometers in ideal sea conditions.
Researchers link the sound to males’ huge nasal cavities—sometimes weighing more than 5 tons—and found larger whales produce lower-pitched clicks, pointing to a size-display function.
The purpose remains unresolved: the clicks may attract females, warn rival males, or do both, while their steady rhythm may rely on echoes from the seafloor acting as a natural metronome.
The team classifies the calls as communication but says there is still no evidence the sounds form part of a broader whale language.