Cetaceans
A brilliant oceanic civilisation
Cetaceans
Over the past 60 million years, cetaceans have undergone a remarkable evolutionary history, giving rise to the whales, dolphins, and porpoises that now inhabit oceans across the globe. Scientific evidence suggests that early cetacean ancestors existed around 50 million years ago, with orcas appearing much later, approximately 30 million years ago.
The modern whale and dolphin species we recognise today became established around 10 million years ago. Today, these animals roam the seas in complex family groups, forming distinct populations and species worldwide, together constituting a highly organised and enduring oceanic civilisation.
Orcas, whales, and dolphins share an exceptionally rich social life and demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities. They are capable of solving complex problems, coordinating collectively, and adapting their behaviour through sophisticated social structures and communication systems. Their efficiency in hunting and cooperation reflects a high level of intelligence.
Dolphins possess brains weighing around 1.7 kg, orcas approximately 6 kg, and sperm whales - the largest-brained animals on Earth, up to 7 kg - compared with the average human brain at around 1.4 kg. These neurological and social characteristics place cetaceans among the most cognitively complex species known.
Protecting cetaceans is essential to the health of our oceans and to the balance of marine ecosystems worldwide. Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent, socially complex species whose presence plays a significant role in ocean life, from migration patterns to acoustic environments shaped by their communication.
Cetaceans rely on sophisticated sound systems to navigate, interact, and organise their social structures. By developing awareness and understanding of these acoustic worlds, practices such as Cetody Sound Healing encourage a deeper appreciation of cetacean intelligence and the environments they inhabit.
Engaging with these soundscapes fosters respect, attentiveness, and a more informed relationship with the natural world, reminding us that protecting cetaceans is closely linked to preserving ocean health and long-term planetary balance.
Why Cetaceans Matter
Their verbal language
We have not yet been able to measure their level of intelligence as we do not understand their verbal language. But the most recent observations have led to scientific works that all highlight their incredible cognitive abilities, and their ability to adapt individually and collectively to the changes in their environment.
The basic tool of their social cohesion is their acoustic system, a system for which they perfectly control and that the propagation of sounds in the liquid element makes it even more important. Fossils dating back more than 26 million years reveal that dolphins already had organs allowing echo-location at that period.
We also know that these beautiful creatures are aware of themselves and their surroundings, that they transmit their knowledge to their offspring, generation after generation for millions of years, which is the definition of "culture".
The work done by the pioneers of this new "Cymatic" science begins to explore the sphere of delphinology. We are at the very beginning of a great adventure and a new era which opens the doors of one of the best kept secrets in the history of the world: the knowledge of this brilliant oceanic civilisation and the incredible gift that it offers to those who know how to discover it.