D-tag data (such as these from one tagged whale) have revealed that sperm whales make rhythmic patterns of clicks called codas to communicate with each other when they are descending, ascending, or near the surface. They use "regular clicks" at depth to orient themselves to the bottom and to find prey. When they do, they accelerate their click rate into a buzz to locate the prey precisely enough to capture it. (Illustration by Jack Cook, WHOI Graphic Services; data from Stephanie Watwood, WHOI)[back]
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