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The sperm whale or cachalot [a] (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.
6 days ago · Sperm whale, the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. It is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. It is thickset and has small paddlelike flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Spermaceti and Diving Capabilities
- Whale Pods and Behavior
- Whaling Target
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They have the largest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth. Their heads also hold large quantities of a substance called spermaceti. Whalers once believed that the oily fluid was sperm, but scientists still do not understand the function of spermaceti. One common theory is that the fluid—which hardens to wax when cold—helps the whale ...
Sperm whales are often spotted in groups (called pods) of some 15 to 20 animals. Pods include females and their young, while males may roam solo or move from group to group. Females and calves remain in tropical or subtropical waters all year long, and apparently practice communal childcare. Males migrate to higher latitudes, alone or in groups, an...
Sperm whales were mainstays of whaling's 18th and 19th century heyday. A mythical albino sperm whale was immortalized in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, though Ahab's nemesis was apparently based on a real animal whalers called Mocha Dick. The animals were targeted for oil and ambergris, a substance that forms around squid beaks in a whale's stomach. ...
Learn about the sperm whale, the largest toothed predator and the animal with the biggest brain on Earth. Find out how it uses echolocation, spermaceti, and its tail fluke to hunt, communicate, and migrate.
Jan 30, 2023 · Learn about the sperm whale, the largest of the toothed whales and an endangered species. Find out its appearance, behavior, diet, distribution, threats, and conservation efforts.
- Mammalia
- Chordata
- Cetacea
Learn about the largest toothed cetacean, its distribution, feeding, social structure, reproduction and conservation status. Find out how sperm whales are identified, studied and threatened by human activities.
Learn about the largest toothed cetacean, its distribution, behavior, ecology and threats. Find out how to identify sperm whales by their unique blow, square head and wrinkled skin.
Feb 13, 2017 · Learn about sperm whales, their culture, behavior, and threats in this feature story from NOAA Fisheries. Discover how sperm whales connect us to literature, use sound to hunt, form social bonds, and have big brains and bodies.
