Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758

Conservation status in the wild

At risk

IUCN: Vulnerable · Red List

Encyclopaedia

What is a sperm whale?

At a glance3

1
Typical body length: males 16 m, females 10.6-11 m.^[1]
2
Adult weight: around 28,500 kg.^[2]
3
Longest recorded lifespan: 77 years (in the wild).^[2]

Overviewnone yet

Origins and historynone yet

Temperament and behaviournone yet

Healthnone yet

Common questionsnone yet

Fun facts8 facts

1
Sperm whale families use rhythmic click patterns called codas, and different clans have their own dialects and will not mix with other clans.^[1]
2
Sperm whales make the loudest sound of any animal, with clicks reaching 236 decibels underwater.^[1]
3
Sperm whale ribs are joined by flexible cartilage, so the ribcage can collapse safely under the crushing pressure of deep dives.^[1]
4
Sperm whales hunt upside down in the deep, and may spot squid as dark silhouettes against the faint light far above.^[1]
5
Sperm whale mothers take turns babysitting: calves are looked after and even nursed by other females while their mothers make long deep dives.^[1]

Sources2

[1]Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
[2]AnAge (CC-BY-3.0)

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Sperm whale guides

Protecting and staying safe around a sperm whale

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Not veterinary advice. General information about this animal. If you find one injured or in trouble, contact a wildlife rescue or the RSPCA rather than handling it yourself.