Sperm Whales

Sperm Whale

Kingdom:Animalia(animal)

Class:Mammalia(mammal)

The Sperm Whale, or Physeter macrocephalus, is one of the biggest whales. They have a large, square head, and they are the biggest toothed whales. The Sperm Whale uses echolocation. Echolocation is the use of sound waves the animal puts out, and then waits to hear the sound echo back to them, this helps them know where they are and also helps them find food. Sperm Whales are deep diving animals. They can go over a mile underwater and stay there for as much as 90 minutes! They mostly eat squid, but sometimes eat octopusus and other fish. They live for over 70 years. A mother Sperm Whale(or cow)has a single calf after 14 to 16 months of pregnancy. Calves nurse usually between 19 to 42 months, but some have nursed up to 13 years! Groups of Sperm Whales are called pods. Females and their young stay in groups of about 12, while males, when they get older, typically live alone. They sleep in a vertical position(straight up and down)near the surface of the water, most times within evening to late night.

Dash-Skarloey

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