Difference between revisions of "Sperm whale"
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The '''Sperm whale''' or cachalot, ''Physeter macrocephalus'', is the largest species of toothed [[whale]]. | The '''Sperm whale''' or cachalot, ''Physeter macrocephalus'', is the largest species of toothed [[whale]]. | ||
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== Habits == | == Habits == | ||
| − | The sperm whale dives up to two miles deep in the ocean in search of its principal prey, the [[giant squid]], sometimes staying underwater for an hour and a half. The sperm whale has poor eyesight and blind individuals are far from uncommon; although good eyesight is | + | The sperm whale dives up to two miles deep in the ocean in search of its principal prey, the [[giant squid]], sometimes staying underwater for an hour and a half. The sperm whale has poor eyesight and blind individuals are far from uncommon; although good eyesight is irrelevant to catching its prey in the lightless ocean depths, it is not known how in fact the whales do locate their prey. |
== Human exploitation == | == Human exploitation == | ||
Revision as of 10:04, April 20, 2007
The Sperm whale or cachalot, Physeter macrocephalus, is the largest species of toothed whale.
Growing up to eighty feet long, it has the largest head of any mammal, taking up a third of the animal's entire length. The sperm whale also has the largest teeth of any mammal (apart from special adaptations such as the tusks of elephants and walruses), though these are only found in its lower jaw.
Two related, but much smaller species, the dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima and the pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps are also known, but not well.
Habits
The sperm whale dives up to two miles deep in the ocean in search of its principal prey, the giant squid, sometimes staying underwater for an hour and a half. The sperm whale has poor eyesight and blind individuals are far from uncommon; although good eyesight is irrelevant to catching its prey in the lightless ocean depths, it is not known how in fact the whales do locate their prey.
Human exploitation
The sperm whale is named for spermaceti oil, which fills the whale's enormous bulbous head. The book Moby Dick is set aboard a whaler in the historic American sperm whale fishery.
In parts of the South Pacific, sperm whale's teeth are still used as marriage tokens, and they were formerly carved by sailors for entertainment and profit.
Sperm whales in the Bible
The sperm whale is one of the marine animals suspected of swallowing Jonah. At least one recent account of a sailor being swallowed by a sperm whale exists, though he was horribly bleached for the rest of his days. [1]