Sperm Whale

ID points

• Huge squared-off head, a third of the total body length
• Blowhole set to the front left of the head, so the spout blows at a slant
• Skin wrinkled like a dried prune, narrow lower jaw with conical teeth

Basics

Family

Physeteridae

Length

11.0–18.0 m

Depth

0-2000 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Temperate & polar · Deep sea

Distribution

Deep water worldwide, favouring temperate to tropical seas

Habitat

Deep open ocean

Diet

Giant squid, deep-sea fish

Easily confused with

Bottlenose DolphinShort thick bottle-shaped snout, with a crease where it meets the foreheadCommon DolphinAn hourglass patch of cream and pale grey on the flankDugongBroad down-turned snout, like a muzzle cut off flat

Fun fact

The Sperm Whale is the largest toothed whale on earth. It can dive as deep as 3 km and hold its breath for as long as 90 minutes, and down in the deep sea it does battle with giant squid.