Education Marine Mammal Species Information - Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC)
Sperm Whale
(Physeter macrocephalus)
The Sperm Whale is the largest of the toothed whales. Males can
grow to 60 feet and weigh 50 tons. Females are usually smaller and
can reach a length of 39 feet. Sperm whales usually travel in groupings
made up of "bachelor pods" (young sexually inactive males),
"breeding pods" (females with young of both sexes) and
"Older Males" which tend to be either solitary or travel
in groups of up to six animals, joining the breeding pods for a
few hours at a time during the breeding season. Sperm whales possess
a single blowhole located left of its midline and far forward on
its head. Its head may take up from 1/4 to 1/3 of its total body
length. Their skin is usually wrinkled. Sperm whales have been known
to remain submerged for over 2 hours. Sperm whales have the slowest
reproductive rate for all whales. Gestation lasts for about 15 months
and a calf will nurse for approximately 2 years. A female will probably
not become pregnant again until 9 months after weaning. Hence, the
entire process occurs only about every 4 years. Sperm whales feed
on fish and squid. They are found throughout the worlds oceans though
distribution is patchy.
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