sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) The largest of the toothed whales in the world are sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), which are easily recognized by their enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. (more) whale vocalization animal behavior Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/whale-vocalization Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/whale-vocalization Also known as: whale song Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti, John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... John P. Rafferty•All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 22, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Also called: whale song (Show more) Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question whale vocalization, process used by whales that produces any of several vocal sounds that assist in communication and the collection of information about their environment. Whales vocalize primarily to navigate, share information with one another, find food, locate other whales, and compete (for food, mates, or territory), and some researchers speculate that whales may use vocal sounds to overwhelm senses of their prey. Whale vocalization includes clicks, whistles, grunts, moans, squeaks, and pulsed calls. Researchers note that the meaning of some of the sounds change according to their pitch, rate, and structure. All whales possess a larynx; however, of the ...(100 of 727 words)

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