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Sperm whale
Scarred Giant (detail)— Artist: Chris Harman
Scarred Giant (detail)— Artist: Chris Harman
Size comparison against an average human
Size comparison against an average human
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Species: P. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future A vulnerable species is a Species which is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The Order Cetacea (sɪˈteɪʃiə L cetus, whale includes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises Cetus is The toothed whales ( Systematic name Odontoceti) form a Suborder of the Cetaceans including sperm whales beaked whales orca dolphins The sperm whale family or simply the sperm whales is the collective name given to three species of Whale found worldwide the Sperm Whale, in the genus catodon
Binomial name
Physeter catodon
Linnaeus, 1758
Sperm whale range (in blue)
Sperm whale range (in blue)
Synonyms

P. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758

The sperm whale (Physeter catodon) is the largest of all toothed whales, making them the Earth's largest living carnivore and largest living toothed animal. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The toothed whales ( Systematic name Odontoceti) form a Suborder of the Cetaceans including sperm whales beaked whales orca dolphins A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting The whale was named after the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in its head and originally mistaken for sperm. Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed and cetus, whale is a Wax present in the head cavities of the Sperm whale ( Physeter The term sperm is derived from the Greek word (σπέρμα sperma (meaning "seed" and refers to the male reproductive cells. It has a cosmopolitan distribution across the world's oceans. In Biogeography, a Biological category of living things is said to have cosmopolitan distribution if this category can be found almost anywhere around the world The species feeds on squid and fish, diving as deep as 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) in order to obtain its prey, making it the deepest diving mammal in the world. Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Pods of females and young live separately from older males. Sperm whales live for 50 years and possibly more.

The sperm whale's enormous head and distinctive shape, as well as its central role in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, have led many to describe it as the archetypal whale. Herman Melville (August 1 1819 &ndash September 28 1891 was an American novelist Short story writer Essayist and poet Moby-Dick is an 1851 Novel by Herman Melville. The story tells the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whaleship An archetype ( pronounced: /ˈɑːkɪtaɪp/ (Brit or /ˈɑrkɪtaɪp/ (Amer Partly because of Melville, the sperm whale is commonly associated with the Leviathan of the Bible. Leviathan ( is a Biblical Sea monster referred to in the Old Testament ( Psalm 74:13-14 Job 41 Isaiah 271 The fearsome reputation perpetuated by Melville was based on bull whales' ability to fiercely defend themselves from attacks by early whalers, sometimes resulting in the destruction of the whaling ships. Historically the sperm whale has also been known as the common cachalot. The word cachalot is originally Portuguese (cachalote), probably coming from cachola, a colloquial term for head. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Sperm whales were commercially hunted until recently and declined as a consequence of over-harvesting, and they are currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC

Contents

Description

Head anatomy
Head anatomy

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales, with adult males measuring up to 20. 5 metres (67 ft) long. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit [2] Their distinctive shape comes from their very large head, particularly in males, which is typically one-third of the animal's length. In contrast to the smooth skin of most other large whales, the skin on the back of the sperm whale is usually knobbly and has been likened to a prune by whale-watching enthusiasts. A prune is any of various of various Plum species mostly Prunus domesticus or European Plum (commonly referred to as a Sugar Plum [3] They are uniformly grey in colour, though they may appear brown in sunlight; white albino whales have also been reported. Albinism (from Latin albus, "white" see extended etymology) is a form of hypopigmentary Congenital disorder, The brain of the sperm whale is the largest and heaviest known of any modern or extinct animal (weighing on average 7 kilograms (15 lb) in a grown male). The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain The largest body part is either the largest given body part across all animals or the largest example of a body part within a Species. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass [4] However, the brain proportionately weigh less than half the brain size of a human when body size is factored. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus

The blowhole is situated very close to the front of the head and shifted to the whale's left. In Biology, a blowhole is the hole at the top of a Cetacean's head through which the animal breathes air This gives rise to a distinctive bushy blow angled forward. The sperm whale has no true dorsal fin, instead a series of ridges are present on the caudal third of the back. A dorsal fin is a Fin located on the backs of some Fishes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises as well as the (extinct The largest was called the 'hump' by whalers and is commonly mistaken for a dorsal fin because of its shape. A dorsal fin is a Fin located on the backs of some Fishes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises as well as the (extinct

The flukes of a sperm whale as it dives into the Gulf of Mexico (courtesy NMFS)
The flukes of a sperm whale as it dives into the Gulf of Mexico (courtesy NMFS)

The fluke is also triangular and very thick. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world Flukes are lifted very high out of the water before a whale begins a deep dive.

Sperm whales have 20–26 pairs of cone-shaped teeth in their lower jaw, each 8–20 cm (3–8 in) long. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. [5] Each tooth can weigh as much as one kilogram. The reason for the existence of the teeth is not known with certainty. It is believed that they are not necessary for feeding on squid and indeed healthy well-fed sperm whales have been found in the wild without teeth. The current scientific consensus is that the teeth may be used for aggression between males of the same species. This hypothesis is consistent with the conic shape and wide spacing of the teeth. [6] Furthermore bull sperm whales often show scars which seem to be caused by the teeth of other bulls. Rudimentary teeth are also present in the upper jaw, but these rarely open into the mouth.

Sperm whales are amongst the most sexually dimorphic (that is, males and females differ greatly) of all cetaceans. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species. The Order Cetacea (sɪˈteɪʃiə L cetus, whale includes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises Cetus is Males are typically 30% to 50% longer (16-18 m, 52–59 ft) than females (12-14 m, 39–46 ft) and are twice as massive (50 000 kg vs. 25 000 kg, 55 short tons vs 27. The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 5 short tons). At birth both males and females are about 4 m (13 ft) in length and mass of 1 000 kg (1 tonne).

The largest bull sperm whale verified and accurately measured was 20. 5 m (67. 9 ft) and 80 tonnes (88 tons). [7] However, there is evidence of much larger bulls than this. Owing to extensive whaling, sperm whale size may have decreased dramatically, as males were heavily exploited during the modern era, primarily after World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In a Nantucket museum there is a jawbone of a sperm whale which is 5. 5 m (18 ft). The jawbone makes up to 20%-25% of the sperm whale's overall body length. Thus this whale might have been 28 m (90 ft) long, a mass of around 133 metric tons (150 short tons). This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. Further evidence of larger bulls in the past resides in New Bedford museum, a 5. 2 metres (17 ft) jaw of a bull that could have been about 25. 6 metres (84 ft) long, with a mass of about 120 tons. In addition, logbooks found in the Nantucket and New Bedford museums are filled with references to bulls that were, considering the amount of oil they yielded, about the same size as these two examples- although whalers were notorious for exaggerating the yield of oil and length of whales they caught. Today, sperm whale males do not usually exceed 18 m (60 ft) in length and 52 metric tons (57 short tons). The largest sperm whales observed are comparable in size to the fin whale (and smaller than blue whales), making the sperm whale either the second or third largest animal species alive. The Blue Whale ( Balaenoptera musculus) is a Marine mammal belonging to the suborder of Baleen whales (called Mysticeti

Spermaceti

Main article: Spermaceti

Spermaceti is the semiliquid, waxy substance found in the head of the sperm whale. Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed and cetus, whale is a Wax present in the head cavities of the Sperm whale ( Physeter Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed and cetus, whale is a Wax present in the head cavities of the Sperm whale ( Physeter The name derives from the late Latin sperma ceti (both words actually loaned from Greek) meaning "sperm of the whale" (strictly, "sperm of the sea monster"). The common name for the species is actually an apocopation of Spermaceti Whale. Early whalers mistook the substance for the whale's semen. Spermaceti is found in the spermaceti organ or case in front of and above the skull of the whale and also in the so-called junk which is right at the front of the whale's head just above the upper jaw. The case consists of a soft white, waxy substance saturated with spermaceti. The junk is a more solid substance.

One function of the spermaceti organs is a buoyancy or diving organ. In Physics, buoyancy ( BrE IPA: /ˈbɔɪənsi/ is the upward Force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is Before diving, cold water is brought through the organ and the wax is solidified. The increase in specific density generates a down force (approx 40 kg equiv) and allows the whale effortless sinking. During the chase in deep levels (max 3,000m) the stored oxygen is consumed and excess heat melts the spermaceti. Now only hydrodynamic forces (by swimming) keep the whale down before effortlessly surfacing.

Hypotheses on further functions exist: One incidentally discussed in Moby-Dick by Melville, is that the case evolved as a kind of battering ram for use in fights between males. [8] This hypothesis is consistent with the well-documented sinking of the ships Essex and Ann Alexander due to attacks by sperm whales estimated to weigh only one-fifth as much as the ships. The Ann Alexander was a Ship from New Bedford Massachusetts that was rammed by a wounded Sperm whale on August 20, 1851 near the

Another possibility is that the case is used as an aid to echolocation (see melon). Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological Sonar used by several Animals such as Dolphins Shrews most Bats The melon is an oval shaped oily fatty lump of tissue found at the center of the forehead of most Dolphins and Toothed whales (but not Porpoises) located The shape of the organ at any given time is likely to focus or widen the beam of emitted sound. Sound' is Vibration transmitted through a Solid, Liquid, or Gas; particularly sound means those vibrations composed of Frequencies [9] The sperm whale actually has two nostrils — one external nostril, forming the blow hole, and one internal nostril pressing against the bag-like spermaceti container.

Spermaceti was much sought after by 18th, 19th and 20th century whalers. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC The substance found a variety of commercial applications, such as watch oil, automatic transmission fluid, lubricant for photographic lenses and delicate high-altitude instruments, cosmetics, additives in motor oils, glycerine, rust-proofing compounds, detergent, chemical fibres, vitamins and 70 or more pharmaceutical compounds. A detergent (as a noun is a material intended to assist Cleaning. A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism.

Distribution

The Sperm Whale is among the most cosmopolitan species in the world, and is found in all the oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. In Biogeography, a Biological category of living things is said to have cosmopolitan distribution if this category can be found almost anywhere around the world The species is relatively abundant from Arctic waters to the equator. Populations are more dense close to continental shelves and canyons, probably because of easier feeding. The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each Continent and associated Coastal plain, which is covered during interglacial periods such Sperm Whales are usually found in deep off-shore waters, but may be seen closer to shore in areas where the continental shelf is small, such as off the Azores or the Caribbean island of Dominica. The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

Ecology, behaviour and life history

Sperm whales are a prime example of a species that has been K-selected, a reproductive strategy associated with very stable environmental conditions that is characterized by a low birth rate, significant parental aid to offspring, slow maturation and high longevity. In Ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of traits which promote success in particular environments Reproduction is the Biological process by which new individual Organisms are produced Females give birth once every four to six years, and the gestation period is at least 12 months and possibly as long as 18 months. Nursing takes place for two to three years. Breastfeeding is the feeding of an Infant or young Child with Breast milk directly from human Breasts, not from a Baby bottle or other In males, puberty lasts for about ten years between the ages of about 10 and 20. Males continue to grow into their 30s and 40s and only reach their full size when about 50 years old. Sperm whales live for up to 80 years.

The social structure of the sperm whales species divides on sexual lines. Females are extremely social animals. Females stay in groups of about a dozen individuals and their young. Males leave these "nursery schools" at somewhere between 4 and 21 years of age and join a "bachelor school" with other males of a similar age and size. As males grow older, they tend to disperse into smaller groups, and the oldest males typically live solitary lives. Yet mature males have been stranded on beaches together, suggesting a degree of co-operation not yet fully understood.

The only predator that attacks sperm whales, besides human beings, is the Orca. The Orca or Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) less commonly Blackfish or Seawolf, is the largest species of the Oceanic dolphin family [10] Large, roving pods of Orcas frequently target groups of females with young, usually trying to separate the sperm whale calf and kill it. Often, the female sperm whales can repel these attacks by forming a circle with their calves in the centre and then violently thrashing their tail flukes, so that no Orca can penetrate the formation. If the Orca pod is extremely large, they may sometimes also kill adult females. Large bull sperm whales have no non-human predators, as even Orcas could be killed by these aggressive, powerful creatures.

Feeding

A piece of sperm whale skin with giant squid sucker scars
A piece of sperm whale skin with giant squid sucker scars

Sperm whales feed on several species, notably giant squid, krill, octopus, and diverse fish like demersal rays, but the main part of their diet consists of medium sized squid. The giant squid ( Genus: Architeuthis) is a deep-ocean dwelling Squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by The The demersal zone is the part of the Sea or Ocean (or deep Lake) comprising the Water column that is near to (and is significantly affected Batoidea is a Superorder of cartilaginous fish containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Most of what is known about deep sea squid has been learned from specimens found in captured sperm whale stomachs, although more recent studies have analysed fecal matter instead. Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the Anus One study, carried out around the Galápagos, found that squid from the genera Histioteutbis (62%), Ancistrocbeirus (16%), and Octopoteutbis (7%) were the most commonly taken,[11] and that most squid were between 12-650 kg in weight. An older study, examining the contents of whales captured by the New Zealand whaling fleet in the Cook Strait region, found a 1. Cook Strait is a Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. 69:1 ratio of squid to fish by weight. [12] Stealing of Sablefish and Toothfish from long lines has been documented and well known also (see below). Battles between sperm whales and colossal squid (which have been measured to weigh nearly 500 kg) have never been observed by humans, however white scars on the bodies of sperm whales are believed to be caused by squid. The Colossal Squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle onychos (claw and teuthis (squid sometimes called In one case three Sperm Whales were observed attacking or playing with a megamouth shark, a rare and large deep-sea species only discovered by man in the 1970s. The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is an extremely rare and unusual species of deepwater Shark. [13]

It is hypothesised that the sharp beak of a consumed squid lodged in the whale's intestine leads to the production of ambergris, analogous to the production of pearls. Ambergris ( Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, ambergrease, or grey Amber) is a solid waxy flammable substance of a dull gray or blackish A pearl is a hard roundish object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled Mollusk. [14] The irritation of the intestines caused by the beaks stimulates the secretion of this lubricant-like substance. Sperm whales are prodigious feeders and eat around 3% of their body weight per day. Although many people prefer the less-ambiguous term body mass, the term body weight is overwhelmingly used in daily English speech and in biological and medical science contexts The total annual consumption of prey by sperm whales worldwide is estimated to be about 100 million tons — a figure greater than the total consumption of marine animals by humans each year. [15]

It is difficult to see why the sperm whale has such a large head in comparison to the lower jaw. One theory explaining this is that the Sperm Whale's ability to echolocate through its head aids in hunting. Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological Sonar used by several Animals such as Dolphins Shrews most Bats Within the head, it contains a structure called monkey lips, which it blows air through. This can create clicks that have a source level exceeding 230 dB re 1 micropascal referenced to a distance of 1 metre. [16] It has been hypothesised that these were directed at prey in order to stun them, however experimental studies attempting to duplicate this effect have been unable to replicate the supposed injuries, and have cast doubt on this idea. [17]

Long-line fishing operations in the Gulf of Alaska have complained that numerous sperm whales have taken advantage of their fishing operations to eat desirable species straight off the line, sparing the whales the need to hunt them themselves. For other meanings of "longline" see Longline. Longline fishing is a commercial Fishing technique that uses hundreds or even The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and However, the amount of fish taken is very little compared to what the sperm whale needs per day. New video footage has been captured of a large male sperm whale "bouncing" a long line, to gain the fish. [18]

Diving and breathing

Sperm whales, along with bottlenose whales and elephant seals, are the deepest-diving mammals in the world. A bottlenose whale is one of two Species of Whale in the Ziphiid family. Elephant seals are large oceangoing Mammals in the Genus Mirounga, in the Earless seal (Phocidae family. Sperm whales are believed to be able to dive up to 3 km (1. 9 miles) in depth and 90 minutes in duration to the ocean floor. More typical dives are around 400 m (437 yards) in depth and 30–45 minutes' duration and generally move in a northerly direction. They can dive two miles (3 km) deep with one gulp of air for two hours. They carry three tonnes of blood which holds enough oxygen to help it achieve its diving depth.

The physiology of the sperm whale has several adaptations to cope with drastic changes in pressure when diving. The ribcage is flexible to allow lung collapse, and the heart rate can decrease to preserve oxygen supplies. In Vertebrate Anatomy, ribs ( Latin costae) are the long curved Bones which form the ribcage. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle tissue. Myoglobin is a single-chain globular Protein of 153 Amino acids containing a Heme ( Iron -containing Porphyrin) Prosthetic Blood can be directed towards the brain and other essential organs only, when oxygen levels deplete. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products The spermaceti organ may also play a role (see above).

Because of the great depths to which they dive, sperm whales sometimes drown when entangled in transoceanic telephone cables. A submarine communications cable is a cable laid beneath the sea to carry Telecommunications between countries [19]

While sperm whales are well adapted to diving, repeated dives to great depths do have long term effects on the whales. Skeletons of sperm whales show pitting of the bones that is often a sign of decompression sickness in humans. Decompression sickness (DCS, the diver’s disease, the bends, caisson disease is the name given to a variety of symptoms suffered by a person Skeletons of the oldest whales showed the most extensive pitting, whereas skeletons of sperm whale calves showed no damage. This damage may indicate that sperm whales are susceptible to decompression sickness, and sudden surfacing could be lethal to them. [20]

Between dives, the sperm whale will come up to the surface for breath and remain more or less still for eight to ten minutes before diving again. Odontoceti (toothed whales) breathe air at the surface of the water through a single, s-shaped blowhole. The blowhole is located on the left side of the front of the head. Sperm whales spout (breathe) 3–5 times per minute at rest, but the rate increases to 6–7 times per minute after a dive. The blow is a noisy, single stream that rises up to 15 m (50 ft) above the surface of the water and points forward and to the left of the whale at a 45° angle.

Taxonomy and naming

The sperm whale is one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in 1758 in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae; he recognised four species in the genus Physeter. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The book Systema Naturae was one of the major works of the Swedish doctor of medicine Carolus Linnaeus. [21] Experts soon realised that just one such species exists, although its correct name is a matter of dispute (see below), with some workers using the name Physeter catodon (e. g. see this Google Scholar search) but others using Physeter macrocephalus (as per this search).

The sperm whale is the sole extant species of its genus, Physeter, which is placed in the family Physeteridae. The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal The sperm whale family or simply the sperm whales is the collective name given to three species of Whale found worldwide the Sperm Whale, in the genus Two species of the related extant genus Kogia, the pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps and the dwarf sperm whale K. The sperm whale family or simply the sperm whales is the collective name given to three species of Whale found worldwide the Sperm Whale, in the genus The pygmy sperm whale ( Kogia breviceps) is one of three Species of Toothed whale in the Sperm whale family. The dwarf sperm whale ( Kogia sima) is one of three Species of Whale in the Sperm whale family. simus, are sometimes also placed in this family, but more often in their own family, Kogiidae. The sperm whale family or simply the sperm whales is the collective name given to three species of Whale found worldwide the Sperm Whale, in the genus

The correct scientific name for the sperm whale is currently unclear. Until 1974 the species was generally known as P. catodon, however in that year Husson & Holthuis[22] proposed that the correct name should be P. macrocephalus, the second name in the genus Physeter published by Linnaeus concurrently with P. catodon, on the grounds that the names were synonyms published simultaneously and therefore the ICZN principle of "First Reviser" should apply, in this instance leading to the choice of P. macrocephalus over P. catodon, a view re-stated in Holthuis, 1987[23]. This has been adopted by some subsequent authors, however Schevill (1986[24] and 1987[25]) argued that macrocephalus was published with an inaccurate description and that therefore only the species catodon was valid, rendering the principle of "First Reviser" inapplicable. At the present time, the name P. catodon is used in the most high profile species information systems, for example the Catalogue of Life and the World Register of Marine Species, however some other sources use P. macrocephalus, for example in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and in various papers and book chapters, e. g. Whitehead, 2002[26]; therefore, to retrieve maximum relevant information, it is currently advisable to search under both names. According to the relevant species page on ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, "Physeter catodon and Physeter macrocephalus are awaiting a ruling regarding their usage by the ICZN [=International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature]". "ICZN" redirects here It is also sometimes used for the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature in error

The following is an extract from Melville's Moby-Dick, in which he expatiates about the vernacular naming and common lore surrounding the sperm whale:

“ This whale, among the English of old vaguely known as Trumpa whale, and the Physeter whale, and the Anvil Headed whale, is the present Cachalot of the French, the Pottfisch of the Germans, and the Macrocephalus of the Long Words. Herman Melville (August 1 1819 &ndash September 28 1891 was an American novelist Short story writer Essayist and poet Moby-Dick is an 1851 Novel by Herman Melville. The story tells the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whaleship ... It is chiefly with his name that I now have to do. Philologically considered, it is absurd. Some centuries ago, when the sperm whale was almost wholly unknown in his proper individuality, and when his oil was only accidentally obtained from the stranded fish; in those days spermaceti, it would seem, was popularly supposed to be derived from a creature identical with the one then known in England as the Greenland or Right Whale. Right whales are the species of large Baleen whales belonging to the Genus Eubalaena. It was the idea also, that this same spermaceti was that quickening humor of the Greenland Whale which the first syllable of the word literally expresses. In those times, also, spermaceti was exceedingly scarce, not being used for light, but only as an ointment and medicament. It was only to be had from the druggists as you nowadays buy an ounce of rhubarb. When, as I opine, in the course of time, the true nature of spermaceti became known, its original name was still retained by the dealers; no doubt to enhance its value by a notion so strangely significant of its scarcity. And so the appellation must at last have come to be bestowed upon the whale from which this spermaceti was really derived. ”
 
— Melville's Moby Dick, Chapter 32, named "Cetology"

Evolution

Sperm whales are believed to have diverged from other toothed whales early in the evolution of the suborder—around 30 million years ago[27], and a number of fossil genera and species have been described from the Late Oligocene period and beyond[28][29] (refer main article Sperm whale family). The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 The sperm whale family or simply the sperm whales is the collective name given to three species of Whale found worldwide the Sperm Whale, in the genus

Relationship with humans

Cultural importance

The teeth of Sperm Whales, when mounted on rope, are important cultural objects in Fiji, where they are known as tabua. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य A tabua is a polished Tooth of a Sperm whale that is an important cultural item in Fijian society They were traditionally given as gifts for atonement or esteem (called sevusevu), and were important in negotiations between rival chiefs. The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. [30] Today the tabua remains an important item in Fijian life. The teeth were originally rare in Fiji and Tonga (which exported the teeth), however with the arrival of Europeans the market was flooded with teeth, so many that it collapsed. The Kingdom of Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean comprising 169 islands 36 of them inhabited stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles The oversupply led in turn to the development of the European art of scrimshaw. Scrimshaw is the name given to handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts of harvesting Marine mammals It is most commonly made out of the Bones [31]

The sperm whale is also the state animal of Connecticut. A state mammal is the official or representative Animal of a U Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America.

Skeleton of a sperm whale
Skeleton of a sperm whale

Population and hunting

See also: Whaling

The number of sperm whales throughout the world is unknown. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC Crude estimates, obtained by surveying small areas and extrapolating the result to all the world's oceans, range from 200,000 to 2,000,000 individuals. Although the sperm whale was hunted for several centuries for its meat, oil and spermaceti, the conservational outlook for sperm whales is brighter than that for many other whales. Although a small-scale coastal fishery still occurs in Indonesia, they are protected practically worldwide. Fishermen do not catch the deep-sea creatures that sperm whales eat, and the deep sea is likely to be more resistant to pollution than surface layers.

In 1820, a sperm whale estimated to be about 25. 9 m (85 ft) long attacked the Nantucket whaleship Essex. Only 8 out of the 20 sailors managed to survive and be rescued by other ships.

However, the recovery from the whaling years is a slow process, particularly in the South Pacific, where the toll on males of a breeding age was severe. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions

Watching sperm whales

See also: Whale watching

Sperm whales are not the easiest of whales to watch, due to their long dive times and ability to travel long distances underwater. Whale watching is the practice of observing Whales and other Cetaceans in their natural habitat Whale watching is the practice of observing Whales and other Cetaceans in their natural habitat However, due to the distinctive look and large size of the whale, watching is increasingly popular. Sperm whale watchers often use hydrophones to listen to the clicks of the whales and locate them before they surface. A hydrophone (Greek "hydro" = "water" and "phone" = "sound" is a Microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening Popular locations for sperm whale watching include the picturesque Kaikoura on New Zealand's South Island, where the continental shelf is so narrow that whales can be observed from the shore, Andenes and Tromsø in Arctic Norway and at the Azores where it can be seen throughout the year as opposed to other whales that are only seen during migration. Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. For andenes the cultivation terraces of the Incas see Anden is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county Norway ( Romsa in Northern Sami, Tromssa in Kven and Finnish) is a city and municipality in the county of Troms, Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from Dominica is believed to be the only Caribbean island with a year-round residential pod of females and calves. The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

In the news

Female in Dominican Pod, 2005
Female in Dominican Pod, 2005

In July 2003 a huge blob of white flesh was found washed up on a beach on the coast of southern Chile. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the The 12-metre (40 ft) long mass of gelatinous tissue[32] gave rise to speculation that a previously unknown giant octopus had been discovered. The However, researchers at the Museum of Natural History, Santiago concluded that the mass was in fact the innards of a sperm whale, a conclusion drawn by looking at the dermal glands. Santiago ( (litteraly in spanish Saint James) is the Capital of Chile, and the center of its largest Conurbation ( Greater Santiago When a sperm whale dies, its internal organs rot, until the animal becomes little more than a semi-liquid mass trapped inside the skin. Eventually, the skin will burst, causing the internal mass to float free and possibly wash up on the beach. [33]

Dead sperm whales float towards shore quite often. Apart from the disposal issues identified above, beach managers fear that sharks, in particular the great white shark, will be attracted towards the beach by the rotting flesh, and potentially cause danger to beach users. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniform For this reason, dead sperm whales are often towed out to sea before they become properly beached. This occurred twice in May 2004, once off Oahu in Hawaii where a dead whale was towed out 35 miles (56 km) to sea but floated back to shore two days later. Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English) known as ''"The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the [34]

Exploding whales

Main article: Exploding whales

Perhaps the most famous piece of sperm whale lore dates from 1970, when a long-dead, 8 short ton (7. Exploding whales have been documented on two notable occasions as well as several lesser-known ones The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 25 tonne), 45 foot (13. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. 7 m) long specimen came to a beach in Oregon. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. For a time, it was a curiosity to local residents. As the beach is public right-of-way, it was the duty of the Oregon Department of Transportation to dispose of it. For railroad track easement see Track transition curve. An easement is the right or freedom to do something or the right to prevent They filled the animal with a half-ton of dynamite. Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of Nitroglycerin, initially using Diatomaceous earth (kieselgur US Spelling kieselguhr On Thursday, November 12, the dynamite was set off, but the blast did not go toward the Pacific as planned. Events 764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days Exploding whales have been documented on two notable occasions as well as several lesser-known ones No one was hurt, but a car was crushed by falling blubber. Onlookers were covered with noxious-smelling bits of dead whale. [35][36]

January 2004 saw a more dramatic entry of the sperm whale into the global media spotlight. A dead specimen of the whale, 17 metres long and weighing 50 tonnes, had washed up on a local beach in Tainan City, Taiwan. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. On being transported to a university in the city, gas pressure from decomposition built up inside the body, causing an explosion. Nobody was hurt, but blood and entrails were spread over several cars and surrounding pedestrians. [37]

Accidents

In March 2007, a Japanese fisherman drowned after his boat was capsized by a panicked sperm whale he was trying to rescue. The whale had wandered into the relatively shallow waters in a bay in Shikoku. is the smallest (225 km long and between 50 and 150 km wide and least populous (4141955 as of 2005 of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū [38]

Bibliography

References

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