Species - Sperm Whale
The Sperm Whale (Physeter catodon), of Moby Dick fame, is the largest carnivore on earth. Also known as The Cachalot, the Great Sperm Whale is grouped
with other toothed whales.
Great Sperm Whale males can grow as large as 50-60 ft. and weigh 40 tons. Females, however, are considerably smaller. They rarely grow beyond 36 ft., weighing about 22 tons. Females give birth to 13 ft. calves. The entire skin surface of the Sperm Whale has a corrugated appearance. Normal color is a dark grey above, with a light brownish underside. The lower jaw and the narrow margin of skin flanking is pure white.
The Sperm Whale's profile is unique. An extraordinarily large flat-topped head, blunt snout and relatively small jaw housing large pointed teeth are distinctive characteristics. There is no true dorsal fin and Sperm Whale flippers are quite short. Deep divers, these whales sometimes stay under for two hours.
Sperm Whales also have hearty appetites. Adults can eat up to a ton of squid a
day. Though the species has been hunted for hundreds of years, the current
population is estimated at several hundred thousand. However, the vast majority
are females.
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