Sperm whales have their own dialects — and cultures

Sperm whales
(Image credit: iStock)

The existence of culture is often considered a key component of what it means to be human. But, loosely speaking, it seems that some other animals have cultures, too.

A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications found that sperm whale clans stick together because group members share behaviors. The study specifically cites click patterns, called codas, that are distinct among sperm whale clans as evidence of this whale "culture." It turns out that whales, like humans, actually learn these behaviors from each other in a practice called "social learning."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.