Topic: Biology

Scientists from the University of St Andrews recorded sperm whales striking each other with their heads. This behavior was previously unknown and has been observed in sub-adult whales, not adult males.

Sperm Whales Strike Heads Together for the First Time

Researchers from the University of St Andrews have made a groundbreaking discovery - they've captured footage of sperm whales hitting each other with their heads! This behavior was previously only talked about by sailors in the 19th century. The team used drones to record the whales' social behavior near the ocean surface.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, found that younger whales were the ones engaging in headbutting, not the large adult males scientists had expected. This unexpected result raises new questions about why this behavior occurs and how it might affect group relationships and social structure.

Lead author Dr. Alec Burlem said: "It was really exciting to observe this behavior, which we knew had been hypothesized for a long time, but not yet documented and described systematically."

Why Do Sperm Whales Headbutt? Scientists say more data is needed to understand the purpose of this behavior. As drones become more widely used, researchers expect to capture more examples of headbutting and other near-surface activities that have largely gone unnoticed.

Historic Accounts of Ship Collisions Reports of sperm whales using their heads to strike objects date back to open-boat whaling in the 19th century. One famous incident involved the whaleship Essex, which was reportedly sunk by two direct strikes from a large bull sperm whale near the Galapagos in 1820.

Drones Are Changing Whale Research Dr. Burslem highlighted the role of new technology in advancing marine science: "This unique overhead perspective for observing and documenting near-surface behavior is just one of the ways drone technology is transforming the study of wildlife biology."

Why It Matters

This discovery can help us better understand whale social behavior and how it affects their relationships. It also shows the importance of using new technologies like drones to advance our knowledge of marine life.

Key Facts

• Sperm whales have been observed striking each other with their heads for the first time.
• The behavior was previously unknown and has been observed in sub-adult whales, not adult males.
• The study was published in Marine Mammal Science on March 23rd, 2026.
• Drones were used to record the whales' social behavior near the ocean surface.
• The discovery raises new questions about why this behavior occurs and how it might affect group relationships and social structure.

Key Terms

Sperm whale

A type of large toothed whale that can grow up to 20 meters long.

Implications

This discovery can help us better understand whale social behavior and how it affects their relationships. It also shows the importance of using new technologies like drones to advance our knowledge of marine life.