Sperm whale clicks could be the closest thing to a human language yet

Sperm whale calls are far more complex than we thought – and could be an animal communication system that is the closest thing to human language yet discovered. The claim is based on an analysis of thousands of exchanges made by east Caribbean sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), which were recorded over several years. "It's really extraordinary to see the possibility of another species on this planet having the capacity for communication," says Daniela Rus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We used to believe that we are the only ones." Sperm whales are long-lived animals with complex social lives, with females and their young living in small groups.