Culture on the High Seas

Female sperm whales and their calves swim off the coast of Pinta Island in the Galápagos.  PHOTO: FLIP NICKLEN, MINDEN/CORBIS

Female sperm whales and their calves swim off the coast of Pinta Island in the Galápagos. PHOTO: FLIP NICKLEN, MINDEN/CORBIS

Have you read about how lemon sharks are able to make and maintain social networks, despite the lack of Facebook and Twitter—and learn from their interactions? Or about the whales who communicate with other humpbacks through social learning? Now a study finds that deep-diving whales have a distinct series of clicks called codas they use to communicate during social interactions.

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