What do you call the flying beetle that lights up summer nights?

Whether you say “lightning bug” or “firefly" depends on your dialect, or language specific to an area or social group. (Also see "Monkeys Have Accents, Japanese Study Finds.") 

Some readers have wondered whether animals have dialects, so Weird Animal Question of the Week is looking at the distinct ways some species “speak.” 

For a recent study, Shane Gero spent six years listening to sperm whales that live in the Caribbean and found codas unique to their regional groups. These sounds may identify individuals and family or social groups—just like first and last names.