📷 (c) markgrtdixon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) · CC BY NC
📷 (c) Wayne and Pam Osborn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
📷 (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY)
IUCN: Vulnerable
Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassMammalia›OrderArtiodactyla›FamilyPhyseteridae›GenusPhyseter
About
Sperm whales have the largest brains of any animal and can dive more than a kilometer to hunt in deep water. Females and young live in long-lasting social units, while adult males range widely between feeding and breeding areas. Historic whaling greatly reduced populations, and modern threats include ship strikes, entanglement, noise, and plastic ingestion.
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Deep offshore waters, submarine canyons, and continental slopes
🍃Diet Carnivore — squid, including large deep-sea squid, plus fish
📏Size & Weight Body 11–18 m
•weight 15,000–57,000 kg
⏳Lifespan 60–70 years
🗺Range Deep oceans worldwide, especially ice-free waters
MammalMarine
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Deep offshore waters, submarine canyons, and continental slopes
🍃Diet Carnivore — squid, including large deep-sea squid, plus fish
📏Size & Weight Body 11–18 m
•weight 15,000–57,000 kg
⏳Lifespan 60–70 years
🗺Range Deep oceans worldwide, especially ice-free waters
Photo Credits
#1(c) markgrtdixon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) · CC BY NC
#2(c) Wayne and Pam Osborn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) · CC BY NC
#3(c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY
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