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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.
Aug 20, 2024 · sperm whale, (Physeter macrocephalus), the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. The sperm whale 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
- Natural Predators
- Human-Induced Threats
- Conservation Status
Killer whales have been observed attacking sperm whale pods, and large sharks are also thought to be potential predators of calves. Sperm whales in some parts of the world have a unique response to attacks, gathering into a ‘marguerite’ or wagon wheel formation – in which all members of the group position themselves with their heads in the centre a...
Sperm whales face a number of threats today, including entanglement in fishing gear12-14, ingestion of fishing gear and marine debris15,16, and ship strikes17-22. The latter is thought to be one of the main drivers of sperm whale population decline in the Mediterranean18,20,21, and a major threat to survival of sperm whales in the Canary islands17,...
Sperm whales were historically heavily hunted, and today are globally designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2. The genetically distinct Mediterranean subpopulation, however, is considered Endangered, due to the fact that there are estimated to be fewer than 2,500 individuals and the persistent threats of ship strikes an...
Nov 14, 2022 · Abstract. The sperm whale lives in most deep ice-free waters of the globe. It was targeted during two periods of whaling peaking in the 1840’s and 1960’s. Using a habitat suitability model, we...
1 day ago · A sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) observed in Monterey Bay on Nov. 30, 2022. A new study by MBARI researchers and their collaborators has revealed that sperm whales are more common offshore of California than previously believed, and has provided new evidence for seasonal migrations in this top predator of the deep sea.
Jan 30, 2023 · Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and have one of the widest global distributions of any marine mammal species. They are found in all deep oceans, from the equator to the edge of the pack ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. They are named after the waxy substance—spermaceti—found in their heads.
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The sperm whale has the largest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth. Learn more about the animal made famous in Herman Melville's “Moby Dick.”
