Immortalised by Herman Melville's classic novel Moby-Dick, sperm whales have delighted (and boggled) ocean lovers for centuries. Boasting the largest brain on Earth, along with an equally large block-shaped head, these social creatures live in pods, sleep vertically and enjoy diving to depths of 3,280ft in search of giant squid. Interesting, huh? For a deeper dive into these fascinating tooth whales, read on for our top ten sperm whale facts.
Their name
Sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, get their name from the substance spermaceti which the whales hold (in large quantities) in their heads. Scientists don't fully understand what the function of this fluid is - it may help the whale to alter its buoyancy when diving and surfacing - but whalers previously thought it was sperm, hence the name.
Their looks
As we just mentioned, sperm whales have large heads. In fact, they 're easily recognised by their large block-like forehead which can make up a third of the whales' full body. It makes sense once you know they have the largest brain of any creature on Earth, which weigh up to 20lb. All in, sperm whalesThese are big creatures, weighing around up to 80 tonnes (around 800 people) and can grow up to 52ft. in length. Talk about larger-than-life. Their impressive size continues within their heads as sperm whales have the largest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth and can weigh up to 20lb.
Big appetites
To keep up with their impressive size, sperm whales need to eat a lot. In fact, they eat around three per cent of their body weight daily, feasting on octopus, fish and crustaceans. But a firm favourite - their guilty pleasure - are giant squids who dwell in the deep. These snacks must be earned though; giant squids don't go down without a good fight. Many whalers have spotted sperm whales bearing war wounds from previous battles with their giant prey.
Good swimmers
The sperm whales' penchant for giant squid means diving deep to find it. An impressive fact about sperm whales is that they dive to depths of 3,280ft and hold their breath for up to 90 minutes to hunt for them. But how fast can a sperm whale swim to catch their prey? 20 miles per hour, to be exact. But it's not all about the sprint. Most of the time, you'll find them cruising the waters at a leisurely three to nine miles per hour.
Social creatures
Sperm whales are social creatures, often found in groups known as 'pods'. Females and their offspring form pods, while males are more solitary, preferring to spend time on their own. Females spend their lives travelling the oceans together and even have their own language - coda.
Adoption
Unlike orca pods, these social groupings don't necessarily have to be made solely on genetics. A sperm whale fact we love is that females will often adopt offspring that's not their own and raise them.
Bachelors
Like Jason Derulo, male sperm whales prefer 'Ridin' Solo'; the only exception is during breeding season. But marine biologists have discovered they do occasionally form bachelor groups and roam the waters together. Think of it as stag for sperm whales.
Vertical sleepers
A wonderful, only recently discovered fact about sperm whales is that they nap vertically; head up, tail down. They take these naps in groups, taking cat naps for ten to 15 minutes at a time several times a day. While there isn't a great deal of understanding as to why these giants snooze in such a uniform formation, scientists believe it's as a way for the whales to remain alert to any potential nearby threats. It is believed that the sperm whale may be the least sleep-dependent animal.
Where do sperm whales live?
Sperm whales are found in oceans around the world. These incredible creatures prefer deep waters, often far from the coast. They thrive in both warm and cold climates, so whether you want to explore the Atlantic, Pacific or Indian Ocean, if you go at the right time of year, there's a good chance you'll spot them.
Conservation status
The health of the sperm whale population is currently a concern. Although they are not classified as endangered, their numbers have declined significantly due to past whaling and are still recovering. Today, threats include entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships and pollution and noise from maritime activities, which can disrupt their communication and navigation. Climate change also affects their prey availability. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these majestic creatures and, to avail, their numbers are slowly increasing.
If you enjoyed this blog, you may also enjoy our Top Ten Crab Facts, our Why Scuba Diving Makes You Happier and Top Ten Hammerhead Shark Facts.
