Yes, whales are an intelligent species of mammals.
However, animal intelligence can be measured in several ways, so perhaps a better question is, “how intelligent are whales?”
Most of the research on this topic comes from studying dolphins that belong to the same cetacean family that whales do and observing whales in their natural habitat.
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all marine mammals and belong to the group known as Cetacea.
In addition to all being marine mammals, they share many of the same physiological traits.
Part of the reason more is known about dolphins than whales when it comes to intelligence is that most whales are too large to be held in captivity for training and study, so much of our understanding of whales regarding this topic is gathered from observational studies.
Humans have trained dolphins, on the other hand, for many, many years, which has allowed us to gather much more detailed knowledge regarding their intelligence and behavior.
In addition, the ability to monitor the brain waves of dolphins and use advanced technology has helped us understand essential information about marine mammals, such as their sleeping habits, thought processes, and self-recognition capabilities, among other things.
So to help answer this question, we shall take a deeper look at both the whale and dolphin species to give you a better answer to their overall intelligence.
The Brain
At one point, brain size used to be considered a valuable tool in measuring intelligence.
The sperm whale has the largest brain of all living animals.
Today, however, there are second thoughts regarding how beneficial this method is for measuring intelligence because many other factors play a more significant role in determining intelligence than brain size.
Second, detecting spindle cells found in several whale and dolphin species also indicates the possibility of high intelligence.
Previously, these cells were only found in humans, elephants, and apes.
All are considered brilliant animals.
Like humans, self-awareness also seems to exist in dolphins as mirror tests have shown that dolphins recognize themselves and will even turn around trying to find markings placed on their bodies when they notice them in the mirror.
The cognitive abilities of dolphins have been an ongoing study with humans for several years.
Many different tests have been done to evaluate a dolphin’s overall intelligence.
Scientists are trying to create and decipher a language that would allow humans and dolphins to converse with one another or at least allow humans to understand the language of our brilliant aquatic friends.
Complex Vocal Language
Baleen whale species have produced loud and melodic tones, often called whale songs.
These songs are highly complex and are often compared to music created by humans.
Whales many miles apart can be heard repeating these songs in perfect harmony and will even change notes or the entire melody together without losing a beat.
These whale songs have interested scientists for many years because of their eerie similarities to artificially composed music.
Only a few other species, such as birds, are known to create such elaborate melodies.
On the other hand, many of the toothed whale species communicate using a variety of high-pitched clicks and whistles, which are distinct among each dolphin, allowing them to detect which one is speaking and what they are saying, even when in huge pods with lots of other dolphins communicating at the same time.
You can think of the varying pitches and speeds dolphins produce, similar to a group of people speaking in a room.
Each person has their voice, pitch, and speed, which makes it easy for us to know which person is speaking to us, even in the dark.
Regarding the cetacean species, whales, dolphins, and porpoises use vocal sounds and body language to communicate with one another.
Some of the things these marine mammals are known to communicate with each other include letting others know that they have found nearby food, alerting others of danger in the area, identifying where other pod members are, showing off their rank and social status, to communicate an interest to play and to express a desire to mate and reproduce among other things.
Body Language and Visual Communication
In addition to using vocal communication, whales are also known for displaying various forms of body language and visual communication.
Some of these forms of communication may include:
- Spyhopping – Lifting their head above the water with their eyes either slightly above or below the water’s surface to observe their surroundings
- Lobtailing – Slapping their flukes/flippers against the water to gain attention or alert other whales of something important.
- Breaching occurs when a giant whale thrusts itself out of the water, exposing at least 40% of its body, then lands back into the water, causing a loud splash and thud. Since the sound is loud, it can be heard over large distances and even underwater, which can help whales communicate with one another even when they are out of visual range.
- Charging – Charging occurs when one whale lunges at another whale and either makes contact with the other whale or nearly hits them. This can be used as a form of play, show dominance, or territorial measure.
- Light nurturing touches – Light nurturing touches can sometimes be seen between a mother and her calf or between two whales that are interested in mating with one another
For whales, this form of communication can be just as important as their vocal communication, especially among species with strong social bonds.
Social Structure
Some whales and dolphins have very complex social structures.
The social structure of killer whales, for example (killer whales are dolphins), is often compared to that of elephants and humans and is even considered by some to resemble a culture.
In most cases, they can be found traveling in large groups (pods) using elaborate hunting methods to capture their prey.
Working in groups, they split up and use a series of techniques to direct, trick, and scare their prey into a cleverly devised trap which they can then use to successfully attack their prey while avoiding or minimizing risk to their health.
They are highly social and skillfully structured when not hunting for food, operating as a well-organized society.
In some pods, up to four generations of family members may be found swimming and living together.
They also protect each other and defend their family and pod from potential threats.
Killer whales are very clever and are sometimes even referred to as the wolves of the sea.
Although killer whales are a very social species, not all species of cetaceans are this social.
Regarding social groups, the adult male sperm whale is an excellent example of a species that isn’t known to form close lifelong bonds with a particular pod.
During mating season, the male sperm whales can be found aggregated together, looking for a female to mate with.
However, once the mating season ends, the adult males may go off in their directions and explore different parts of the world.
A single adult male sperm whale can travel the entire world during its 70-year lifespan.
Learning and Training
Dolphins are well-known in aquatic shows for their ability to perform astonishing tricks.
In addition, the military has trained them due to their ability to learn and master complicated instructions and tasks.
At marine shows, dolphins perform tricks, flipping through hoops, leaping out of the sky, interacting with the audience, acting on cue, asking for food, and communicating with their trainers.
In the military, they have been used for several tasks, including locating missing people, scouting out unknown territory with cameras attached to them, and detecting mines in the water.
Humans rely on these intelligent aquatic friends for entertainment, more critical tasks, and sometimes companionship.
Conclusion
By many standards, yes, whales are considered intelligent.
Some species have developed social structures that rival the cultures of humans.
They forage, socialize, care for their young, and travel together as humans and elephants do.
And their ability to learn and communicate with humans far exceeds that of many other species on land and in the water.