Sperm Whales

The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator on Earth, famed for its massive, block-shaped head and record-breaking dives.

Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Cetacea
Family	Physeteridae
Genus	Physeter
Species	macrocephalus

Description

Sperm whales have an enormous, block-shaped head making up roughly a third of their body length, housing the spermaceti organ — a reservoir of waxy oil once prized by whalers, now thought to help the whale focus sound for echolocation.

Size

Male sperm whales measure up to 52 feet and weigh as much as 45 tons; females are notably smaller, typically 36 feet and around 15 tons.

Diving

Sperm whales are the deepest-diving mammals on record, capable of descending over 7,000 feet and holding their breath for up to 90 minutes in search of prey in the ocean's dark depths.

Diet

Sperm whales feed mainly on deep-sea squid, including giant and colossal squid, as well as fish, using echolocation clicks — some of the loudest sounds made by any animal — to hunt in total darkness.

Social structure

Female sperm whales and their young live in stable social units of about a dozen individuals, while adult males roam more widely and often alone, joining groups only to breed.

Conservation

Sperm whales were a primary target of the whaling industry for their spermaceti oil, and though populations remain reduced from historical levels, they are found in every ocean and are considered vulnerable rather than endangered today.