A deep diver

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales. They dive deep, often over a kilometre, to hunt squid, and can stay down for about an hour.

Clicks and codas

Sperm whales produce some of the loudest sounds made by any animal. They use series of clicks for echolocation while hunting, and patterned sequences called codas for social communication. Different clans use different coda styles, which are passed down within families.

Recovering slowly

Commercial whaling reduced sperm whale numbers greatly. Populations are slowly recovering, but their slow reproduction, entanglement and ship strikes still limit growth.

Listen

What it sounds like: Sequences of loud clicks called codas.

To hear independent recordings, try Freesound. Check each recording’s licence before reusing it. See Media & Sources.

Further reading: Ocean Giants: How Whales Use Sound to Talk Across Oceans

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.