New Non-Invasive Drone Method Determines Sperm Whale Sex and Age from Aerial Photos Researchers have developed a minimally invasive technique using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to determine the sex and developmental stage of sperm whales in the wild. The study, conducted off the Galápagos Islands with 51 individuals, relies on photogrammetry to measure body lengths and other morphometric features from overhead images. These measurements are compared against historical whaling data on sperm whale growth curves and sexual dimorphism to assign developmental stages, such as calves, juveniles, subadults, or adults. A Bayesian statistical approach then estimates the probability that an individual is female based on body shape and size differences between sexes. The method achieved confident classifications for most whales examined. Additionally, the team analyzed peduncle diving behavior—a specific diving pattern—and found it aligns with prior observations: it is mainly performed by subadult males and directed toward females. This approach provides an efficient, low-cost alternative to traditional methods like genetic sampling or close vessel approaches, which can be disruptive. By enabling better demographic data collection on live sperm whales, the technique supports improved understanding of their social behavior, reproductive strategies, and population health. The findings contribute valuable insights for conservation efforts, especially for this culturally significant and vulnerable marine species. Datasets and scripts from the study are publicly available on GitHub for further research and validation.

New Non-Invasive Drone Method Determines Sperm Whale Sex and Age from Aerial Photos

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Usuarios: It's not clickbait ✅

#spermwhales #dronephotogrammetry #marinebiology

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Sperm Whales Speak With a Complex Alphabet and Even Have ‘Vowels,’ Study Finds Linguists hope to be conversant in rudimentary-level sperm whale in the next five years.

#SpermWhales Speak With a Complex #Alphabet and Even Have ‘ #Vowels,’ Study Finds

gizmodo.com/sperm-whales...

#Cochrane5 #mochadick #novelainédita #spermwhales #cachalote

"You looking at me?"

"Fancy a pint?"

"The Pope should be very careful when talking about theology".

#SpermWhales

If we can save one, we can save many. If we craft now, we can still turn the tide.

SaveTheWhales #SpermWhales #OceanRescue #MarineLifeMatters #ProtectOurPlanet #EcoInnovation #WildlifeRescue #BluePlanet

🐋 The Green Fund joins the #SAvEWhales partnership, boosting funding and sustainability!
🚢 Key step towards preventing ship strikes with #spermwhales in #Med
🌊 Innovative system that brings science into action
🤝 Collaboration between scientists, civil society & public authorities
🔗 shorturl.at/irdLz

Scientists saw a sperm whale giving birth. And then things got weird Sperm whales are known to socialize, but scientists were stunned when they saw a group of sperm whales gather as one of them gave birth

"But this kind of behavior had previously been “considered characteristic only of humans and their close relatives""

www.scientificamerican.com/article/sper... #assistance #biologist #birth #carribbeansea #ceti #dominica #projectceti #spermwhale #spermwhales #support

Scientists recorded a sperm whale birth up close for the first time. They discovered something extraordinary. The marine mammals act like midwives, supporting mothers and their calves through delivery.

Wow.

Another trait science thought was exclusive to primates falls by the wayside.

#whales #spermwhales #cetacean #birth #family #sticktogether #wearefamily #babies
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

Scientists watch sperm whales work as a team to assist a birth An unprecedented look at the birth of a sperm whale found that mother and calf were supported by other whales throughout the process.

#Scientists watch #spermwhales work as a team to assist a birth

www.npr.org/2026/03/27/n...

Scientists saw a sperm whale giving birth. And then things got weird Sperm whales are known to socialize, but scientists were stunned when they saw a group of sperm whales gather as one of them gave birth

Sperm whales help one another give birth, new study finds #Science #Biology #Zoology #SpermWhales #AnimalBehavior #Conservation

www.scientificamerican.com/article/sperm-whales-hel...

#R4Today

The 08:35 US guest (Kirsten Fontainrose?) was possibly the worst ever.

After telling Nick Robinson he was 100% wrong, she then provided evidence that he was exactly right.

What a waste of time - time that could have been given over to #SpermWhales

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Drone Footage Reveals Sperm Whales Head-Butting — Echoing Tales That Inspired Moby Dick #Science #Biology #Zoology #SpermWhales #MarineBiology #MobyDick

www.discovermagazine.com/drone-footage-reveals-sp...

First-of-its-kind video confirms sperm whales really do headbutt Captain Ahab was right.

"Sperm whales really do use their massive heads to push and strike objects. Scientists using a drone filmed sperm whales headbutting each other during fieldwork in the Azores and Balearic islands."
🌊🐋🐳 #SpermWhales #Headbutts #Video #Biology #Nature #AmazingCritters

By @laurabaisas.bsky.social 👏🏼

#whales #spermwhales

First-of-its-kind video confirms sperm whales really do headbutt Captain Ahab was right.

First-of-its-kind video confirms sperm whales really do headbutt #Science #Biology #Zoology #SpermWhales #AnimalBehavior #MarineLife

www.popsci.com/environment/sperm-whale-...

First-of-its-kind video confirms sperm whales really do headbutt Captain Ahab was right.

First-of-its-kind video confirms #spermwhales really do #headbutt

www.popsci.com/environment/...

Headbutting Behavior Between Sperm Whales Documented Using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles Click on the article title to read more.

#whale

Here's the paper describing #headbutting #spermwhales

Primary lit, fresh off the press. First published: 23 March 2026

doi.org/10.1111/mms....

#whale
A new paper in Marine Mammal Science (linked below) describes drone footage showing young #spermwhales head butting. Watch the fun, read about it in the links below

youtu.be/GyZnJ42iGnE?...

Scientists Capture Sperm Whales Headbutting in Stunning New Footage Sperm whales caught on camera headbutting each other—turns out the legends might have been true after all.

Scientists Capture Sperm Whales Headbutting in Stunning New Footage #Science #Biology #Zoology #SpermWhales #MarineLife #WildlifeDocumentary

scitechdaily.com/scientists-capture-sperm...

3 #March #WorldWildlifeDay
‘Sperm Whale - By Louis A. Sargent’
Frank Finn, *The Wild Beasts of the World* Vol. 2 (T. C. and E. C. Jack, London [1909?])
#wildlife #whales #spermwhales #biodiversity #ScientificIllustration #illustrationartists
#LouisAugustusSargent (1881-1965)

Wendy Marks et al looked at parasites in pygmy #spermwhales. They found three new #Helicobacter #bacteria species in four stranded #whales, all w/ one or more of symptoms: gastritis, gastric ulceration, and gastric fibrosis.

None of these conditions caused the stranding

bioone.org/journals/jou...

Researchers are using #drones to sample #whale “blow” as a non-invasive disease #surveillance tool. The method detected cetacean morbillivirus in #humpback, fin, and #spermwhales for the first time above the #ArcticCircle.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Dogs name toys while elephants name each other. Animal language is more complex than we imagine | Helen Pilcher If we really want to grasp what animals are ‘saying’, we need to understand their communication on their terms, not ours, says science writer Helen Pilcher

"[ #SpermWhales ] hunt together, babysit for each other and work together to see off predatory orcas. Of course they have complex #communication. They need it for #survival.": buff.ly/oN0jVzO

via @theguardian.com
#animals #whales #community #AnimalBehavior

World Whale Day World Whale Day honors majestic whales and their vital role in ocean ecosystems, inspiring education, conservation, and global events to protect them.

Entered this into my calendar incorrectly, should have set a reminder for Fri and yesterday, but better late than never.

www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-w... #belugawhales #bluewhales #bowheadwhales #graywhales #humpbackwhales #killerwhales #narwhals #orcas #rightwhales #spermwhales #whale #whales

📢World Whale Day!
These gentle giants also call the #Mediterranean home.
🐋 #Finwhales and #spermwhales are extraordinary mammals, essential to ocean balance and indicators of its health. Today their survival is at risk. Protecting whales means defending Mediterranean biodiversity. 💙

🌊 Historic moment! #HighSeasTreaty (#BBNJ)=1st global, legally binding frmwrk to protect #biodiversity in intrnl. waters!
📗The Green Tank supports ambitious action for #MarineLife: 🐋 #SAvEWhales - #spermwhales against #shipstrikes & 🌿 #LifeMareNatura - marine protected areas for #OceanConservation

Dogs name toys while elephants name each other. Animal language is more complex than we imagine | Helen Pilcher If we really want to grasp what animals are ‘saying’, we need to understand their communication on their terms, not ours, says science writer Helen Pilcher

" #SpermWhales, which use “ #names ” & accents, have recently been shown to have their own #phonetic #alphabet ..By altering their rhythm, tempo, duration & number [of clicks], simple units of #sound can be combined to generate complexity": buff.ly/5ovheVy

via @theguardian.com

#SpermWhale #SpermWhales

It's the Twelve Days Of Whalemas Day Three! Did you know that Sperm Whales are named after the waxy liquid found in the sperm whale’s melon which is called spermaceti?

How do you include Whale Love in your holiday celebrations?!
#WhaleTales #SpermWhales

Sperm Whale Clicks May Be More Complex Than Once Thought, and Similar to Human Language Learn how new discoveries about whale language also raise ethical and legal questions.

Sperm Whale Clicks May Be More Complex Than Once Thought, and Similar to Human Language #Science #Biology #Zoology #SpermWhales #AnimalCommunication #LanguageScience