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Extreme Rhythm Keeping in Long-Range Slow Click Communication of Sperm Whales
Simone K A Videsen1, Teresa Raimondi2, Pernille M Sørensen1,3
1Center for Active Sensing with Sound, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Male sperm whales produce the loudest mammal communication signals, using slow, rhythmic clicks. These loud, low-frequency clicks travel up to 70 km, potentially conveying timing information over long distances.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Bioacoustics
- Animal Communication
Background:
- Male sperm whales produce distinct, low-frequency clicks.
- Understanding the acoustic properties and communication range of these signals is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the source properties and active space of male sperm whale clicks.
- To investigate the rhythmic properties and potential function of these slow clicks as a long-range communication signal.
Main Methods:
- Measurements of sperm whale click source properties.
- Sound propagation modeling in deep ocean environments.
- Analysis of click repetition rates and rhythmicity.
Main Results:
- Sperm whale clicks are the loudest mammal communication signals (>200 dB re 1 µPa peak-peak).
- These clicks have an estimated active space of up to 70 km.
- Click rates (0.1-0.3 Hz) are an order of magnitude slower than other rhythmic signals, exhibiting high rhythmicity.
Conclusions:
- Sperm whale slow clicks are a low-entropy, long-range communication signal.
- The extreme rhythmicity may serve as honest advertisement to distant receivers.
- Isochrony might be maintained using extrinsic environmental echo information.
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