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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
sperm whale |
| KINGDOM: |
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| PHYLUM: |
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| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Cetacea |
| FAMILY: |
Physeteridae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Physeter catadon |
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| SIZE: |
maximum size approaches 20 m |
| MALE |
15.2 m (50 ft.) |
| FEMALE |
10.7 m (35 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
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| MALE |
39,500 kg (87,000 lbs.)
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| FEMALE |
12,200 kg (27,000 lbs.) |
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| DIET: |
Predominantly squid, however sharks and other fish species supplement. |
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| GESTATION: |
14-19 months |
| ESTRAL
PERIOD |
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| NURSING
DURATION |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
60 to 70 years |
| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| RANGE: |
All oceans - particularly between 40°N & 40°S. Adult males may venture beyond 50°N or S. Most frequent off South American and African coasts, waters of the North Atlantic, Arabian sea, waters between Australia and New Zealand, western North Pacific, and all along equator. |
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| HABITAT: |
Generally found in waters in excess of 1,000 meters with cold-water upwellings. |
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| 1. |
Sperm whales posess the most asymetrical skull of any mammal. |
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| 2. |
Sperm whales have the largest brain of any living animal - weighing up to 9.2 lbs. |
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| 3. |
Sperm whales have been sonar tracked in dives exceeding 2,250 m (1.4 miles). Analysis of stomach contents indicates that sperm whales are capable of diving beyond 3,000 m (1.9 miles). |
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| 4. |
The longest recorded dive for a sperm whale was in excess of two hours. |
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| 5. |
Sperm whales receive their common name for the massive spermaceti organ located in the forehead region. This organ can hold up to 1,900 liters of wax-like oil. Opinions differ as to the purpose of the spermaceti. Some scientists believe that variations in oil density may assist the sperm whale in adjusting its bouyancy during dives. Other scientists believe that the oil is used as an accoustic aid in the process of echolocation. |
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