Ocean Literacy · Marine Mammals

Waxy lumps washed ashore could unlock secrets of elusive sperm whales

Curtin University researchers have recovered sperm whale DNA from museum specimens of ambergris, suggesting the prized perfume ingredient could double as a genetic record of one of the ocean’s hardest animals to study.

By SEVENSEAS Media, from Curtin University | Ocean Literacy

Strange waxy lumps that occasionally wash up on beaches could help scientists uncover new secrets about one of the ocean’s most elusive animals.

New Curtin University research has found that ambergris, a rare substance produced by sperm whales, can contain preserved DNA that provides clues about the whales that produced it.

The findings suggest the unusual material, prized for centuries for its distinctive fragrance and use in perfumes, could offer scientists a new way to investigate sperm whale populations, genetics, diet and ecology.

Sperm whales spend much of their lives far offshore and can dive to great depths, making them notoriously difficult to study in the wild.

Curtin PhD student and study co-author Lewis Haines said ambergris could provide scientists with a rare opportunity to learn about sperm whales from something they leave behind.

“Sperm whales are incredibly challenging to study because they spend most of their lives far offshore and deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Ambergris gives us a rare opportunity to learn more about these animals from something they leave behind.”

Lewis Haines, PhD student, Curtin University

Two tests, two kinds of evidence

The research team analysed ambergris specimens held by the Western Australian Museum using a combination of DNA metabarcoding and chemical analysis.

Chemical testing identified key compounds associated with ambergris, including ambrein, helping researchers determine whether specimens were likely to be genuine.

DNA analysis provided a different kind of information, with sperm whale DNA detected in several samples and confirming their biological origin.

The researchers said some specimens contained little or no detectable DNA, which could be due to DNA breaking down over time or because the material had been incorrectly identified as ambergris.

The results highlight the value of combining the two approaches, with chemical analysis helping authenticate ambergris while DNA analysis can provide biological information about its source.

“DNA analysis can provide clues that chemical testing alone can’t, and could ultimately help us investigate questions about sperm whale populations, diet and ecology.”

Lewis Haines, PhD student, Curtin University

A biological time capsule

The research could have implications beyond simply identifying mysterious beach finds.

Because ambergris forms inside sperm whales and can spend prolonged periods exposed to seawater before washing ashore, the discovery that genetic material can survive within it opens up the possibility of using the substance as a kind of biological time capsule.

Researchers could potentially use DNA recovered from ambergris to investigate which populations sperm whales belong to, what they have been eating and the microorganisms associated with them.

The approach could prove particularly useful for studying animals that are difficult to observe or sample directly.

The researchers said further work could help determine how consistently DNA is preserved in ambergris and how the technique might be applied to larger collections of specimens.

For beachcombers, the findings also add another layer of intrigue to a substance that has long been surrounded by mystery, suggesting that what may look like an unremarkable lump washed up on the sand could contain a genetic record of a whale that travelled thousands of kilometres across the ocean.

The study, “Enhancing ambergris identification through combined analytical techniques”, by Matthew A. Campbell, Lewis Haines, Alan Scarlett, Kenny Travouillon, Kliti Grice, Morten E. Allentoft and Zoe Richards, was published in Royal Society Open Science on 2 September 2026 and is open access. This article is adapted from material supplied by Curtin University.

SEVENSEAS Media · Conservation Journalism for the Ocean