Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale / Cachalot

“ Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed. ”

– Herman Melville

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Infraorder: Cetacea

Family: Physeteridae

Genus: Physeter

Species: Physeter macrocephalus

Descendant: Physeteridae

Named by: Carl Linnaeus

Year Published: 1758

Lifespan: 70+ years

Size: 16 metres (52 ft) in length

Type: 

Title: 

Other Name(s)/Alias(es): none

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian

Time Period: Pliocene–Holocene

Alignment: Neutral

Threat Level: ★★★★★

Diet: Carnivorous 🥩🐟🦀

Elements: Water, sound, dark

Inflicts: Marked

Weaknesses: Fire (out of water), electric, leaf, fae

Casualties: none

Based On: none

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU) - IUCN Red List

The Sperm Whale or Cachalot (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.

Etymology

They are named after the waxy substance—spermaceti—found in their heads. The spermaceti is an oil sac that helps the whales focus on sound. Spermaceti was used in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Sperm whales were a primary target of the commercial whaling industry from 1800 to 1987, which nearly decimated all sperm whale populations.


The name did not come from sperm cells.

Physical Appearance

Sperm whales are mostly dark gray, though some have white patches on the belly. They are the only living cetacean that has a single blowhole asymmetrically situated on the left side of the crown of the head. Their heads are extremely large, accounting for about one-third of their total body length. The skin just behind the head is often wrinkled. Their lower jaw is narrow, and the portion of the jaw closest to the teeth is white. The interior of the mouth is often bright white as well. There are between 20 and 26 large teeth on each side of the lower jaw. The teeth in the upper jaw rarely break through the gums.


Sperm whale flippers are paddle-shaped and small compared to the size of the body, and their flukes are triangular. They have small dorsal fins that are low, thick, and usually rounded.

Abilities

These popular leviathans are vocal and emit a series of “clangs” that may be used for communication or for echolocation. Animals that use echolocation emit sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back to their senders—revealing the location, size, and shape of their target.

Ecology

Sperm whales eat fish and squid, including giant and colossal squid that grow more than 50 feet (15 meters) long. Much of the sperm whale's life is spent under the sea, far from land, so the species largely remains a mystery. Individuals are born into groups composed of about a dozen females and their young.


Like elephants, females tend to stay together, but males leave the group as early as their fifth year. Young males form groups with others about their age. As they mature, the males break into smaller groups; older males usually live alone. The bulls tend to stay in cooler, higher latitudes, while the females remain in warmer waters. Males are ready to breed at 18 years old but don't reach full size until about 50. They return to female ranges to mate.

Behavior

Coming soon

Distribution and Habitat

These cetaceans are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world, usually in pods (groups) of about 15 to 20; solitary males, however, may wander into colder regions.


Prior to whaling, sperm whales may have numbered 1.1 million worldwide, according to the American Cetacean Society.


Tamed

Coming soon

Lore

Sperm whales are a lost species of cetaceans that survived for 3000+ years, along with Commerson's dolphin and harbor porpoise. They survived overexploitation and were fully protected by conservationists and the royal family.

Known Individuals

Gallery

See also: none

Foreign Languages

Trivia