Facts

All of the facts on this page are found on the NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service website.
 ·         Sperm whales are named for the spermaceti oil (wax) that they produce in the spermaceti organs that are located in their head.
 ·         The brain of a sperm whale is the largest of any animal (up to 20 lbs.).
 ·         A sperm whales mouth is also rather unique; small with teeth only on their lower jaw; the upper jaw is dotted with holes where the bottom fit when the mouth is closed.
·         Adult males can reach 50 feet in length and weigh 120,000 lbs. (that is equivalent 60 tons!)
 ·         Sperm whales are one of the deepest diving whales.
They usually dive hundreds or thousands of feet for as long as 40 minutes, but can dive a mile or deeper for over two hours.
 ·         Between dives, sperm whales often spend time lying stationary at the oceans surface.
 ·         These sounds are among the loudest sounds made under water by animals, and they can travel up to six miles despite being fairly high in frequency.
 ·         Sperm whales have the largest nose in the world, which in fact is very much involved in producing underwater sounds.
 ·         Man hunted the sperm whale for spermaceti; semi liquid waxy oil located in the whales head, which was used to make candles and light streets and homes throughout the 19th century.
 ·         The sperm whale blowhole is rather unique compared to other whales because it shoots off forward at an angle rather than vertical like other whales.

Did you enjoy those fun facts? Whale Jokes are up next. Or you can head back to the homepage.