Difference between revisions of "Sperm whale"
(changed category) |
(added navbox & infobox) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | {{Taxonomy | |
| + | |name=Sperm whale | ||
| + | |image=Spermwhale.jpg | ||
| + | |caption= | ||
| + | |superkingdom= | ||
| + | |kingdom= Animalia | ||
| + | |subkingdom= | ||
| + | |superphylum= | ||
| + | |phylum=Chordata | ||
| + | |subphylum= | ||
| + | |infraphylum= | ||
| + | |microphylum= | ||
| + | |superdivision= | ||
| + | |division= | ||
| + | |subdivision= | ||
| + | |superclass= | ||
| + | |class=Mammalia | ||
| + | |subclass= | ||
| + | |infraclass= | ||
| + | |superorder= | ||
| + | |order=Cetacea | ||
| + | |suborder=Odontoceti | ||
| + | |infraorder= | ||
| + | |superfamily= | ||
| + | |family=Physeteridae | ||
| + | |subfamily= | ||
| + | |supertribe= | ||
| + | |tribe= | ||
| + | |subtribe= | ||
| + | |genera= | ||
| + | |genus=Physeter | ||
| + | |subgenus= | ||
| + | |species=P. macrocephalus | ||
| + | |binomialname=Physeter macrocephalus | ||
| + | |sub= | ||
| + | |alt= | ||
| + | }} | ||
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]]. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 64: | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | {{Nb zm whales}} | ||
[[Category:Cetaceans]] | [[Category:Cetaceans]] | ||
Revision as of 01:36, July 23, 2007
| Sperm whale | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class Information | |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Cetacea |
| Sub-order | Odontoceti |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Physeteridae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Physeter |
| Species Information | |
| Species | P. macrocephalus |
| Binomial name | Physeter macrocephalus |
| Population statistics | |
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]
Sperm whales and the candle industry
In the 19th century sperm whales were prized as a source of spermacetti, used in the making of sopecialist, high-class candles (for places such as churches where tallow candles were deemed inappropriate). Spermacetti is not, in fact, the sperm of the sperm whale, which would have been difficult to harvest, but a material found in its brain cavity.