Male sperm whales produce loudest communication sounds ever measured in any mammal
Deep in the world's oceans, large male sperm whales emit slow, low-frequency clicks with the highest source levels of any animal communication sounds. These slow clicks are not the echolocation clicks the whales use to locate prey, but loud, low-frequency communication signals.
Deep beneath the ocean's surface, male sperm whales emit the loudest communication sounds known in any mammal, according to an international research team. These slow, low-frequency clicks, produced by a large nasal complex in the male's nose, can reach impressive levels of strength, rhythm, and range. The research, published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, suggests that male sperm whales use these clicks as a kind of reverse clickbait, serving as an "honest advertisement" of their size to both females and rivals.
While the exact purpose of these clicks remains unclear, the study's authors hope to conduct further experiments to better understand their role in sperm whale communication.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
