Humpback whale songs follow patterns that are similar to human language, according to new studies. This suggests that traits found throughout the animal kingdom may have guided the development of human speech.
Male humpback whales produce sounds in a complex sequence, known as a song. A song can be up to 30 minutes long and may be repeated for hours. Scientists aren’t sure exactly why humpbacks sing, but it seems to help them attract mates. As with human language, the whales’ songs are culturally transmitted, meaning they are learned from others.
An international team of scientists studied recordings collected over eight years near the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. Because humpback whale songs are made up of various sounds, such as moans, grunts, and squeaks, the scientists…
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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 256