'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication sound of any animal

New research unveils the sperm whale's most powerful form of communication, a mysterious low-frequency clang that can travel up to 43 miles (70 kilometers). Unlike the short, rhythmic clicks used for typical social interaction or echolocation, these clangs are unique to male sperm whales and remain a puzzle for scientists. In a study conducted off the Seychelles, researchers used hydrophones to record the sound levels of these clangs, which are so loud they are said to sound like a "jail door slamming."

The whales produce these sounds by snapping their phonic lips in their colossal noses, with a 5 to 10-second gap between each clang, a rhythm so deliberate it suggests whales may be using echoes off the seafloor to maintain the pattern. While the exact purpose of these long-range clangs remains unknown, it's speculated they could serve to attract mates or deter rival males.

Future research may involve playing the clang recordings underwater to observe how other sperm whales react.