Scientists have filmed sperm whales headbutting each other for the first time, using drones above the sea near Spain and the Azores in 2022.
Sperm whales are the largest toothed animals on Earth, and sailors have written stories for centuries about them ramming ships and each other. One famous event in 1820, when a whale sank the ship Essex, helped inspire the novel Moby-Dick. Even so, scientists have long argued about whether these whales really do use their heads to hit one another.
The new study, published in Marine Mammal Science, includes video of a young male whale crashing into a smaller female. Researchers also recorded other whales colliding head-to-head or striking each other with different levels of force. In one video, two young males were seen diving under each other and surfacing near a female before one turned and rammed her. After that, the female swam away while the two males carried on interacting.
Scientists do not yet know exactly why sperm whales headbutt. Some experts think it could be rough play, which is common in young animals that live in groups. Others believe it may help young males practise skills they will need as they grow older and leave their family groups. Sperm whale groups are led by older females called matriarchs, and males usually leave when they become adults.
Researchers have suggested that this noisy and pushy behaviour may sometimes upset the group and play a part in young males being forced out. Experts say the whales in the videos were probably not trying to cause serious harm. A sperm whale’s brain sits far back in its huge head, which may help protect it during these clashes.
