Whales learn to become 'bilingual' by adapting dialects (opens original article in a new tab)

Sperm whales in the Mediterranean have developed the ability to use multiple dialects, switching between a traditional 3+1 click pattern and a faster version, showing cultural evolution over time. Researchers found that whales near the Hellenic Trench use a distinct dialect that is a modified version of the ancestral pattern, while also retaining memory of the original. The study provides insights into the slow evolution of sperm whale culture and highlights the shared cultural diversity between human and animal history in the region. A separate study also documented an Arabian Sea humpback whale traveling to Goa, considered a rare behavioural event.

• Sperm whales in the Mediterranean have adopted new calls while retaining their original dialects
• Whales near the Hellenic Trench use a faster version of the 3+1 dialect compared to western populations
• Whales switch between dialects, showing cultural evolution in sperm whale populations
• New findings reveal the slow evolution of sperm whale culture in the Mediterranean
• The study highlights shared cultural diversity between human and animal history in the Mediterranean
• A separate study found an Arabian Sea humpback whale traveled to Goa, considered a behavioural anomaly