In some taxonomic schemes the families Kogiidae and Physeteridae are combined as the superfamily Physeteroidea (see the separate entry on the sperm whale family). sima, are placed either in this family or in the family Kogiidae. Two species of the related extant genus Kogia, the pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps and the dwarf sperm whale K. It is the sole extant species of its genus, Physeter, in the family Physeteridae. It is a member of the unranked clade Cetacea, with all the whales, dolphins, and porpoises, and further classified into Odontoceti, containing all the toothed whales and dolphins. The sperm whale belongs to the order Cetartiodactyla, the order containing all cetaceans and even-toed ungulates. ( See " Jaws and teeth" below.)Īnother synonym australasianus (' Australasian') was applied to sperm whales in the Southern Hemisphere. Its synonymous specific name catodon means 'down-tooth', from the Greek elements cat(a)- ('below') and odṓn ('tooth') so named because it has visible teeth only in its lower jaw. The specific name macrocephalus is Latinized from the Greek makroképhalos ( μακροκέφαλος 'big-headed'), from makros ( μακρός) + kephalē ( κεφαλή).
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The scientific genus name Physeter comes from the Greek physētēr ( φυσητήρ), meaning 'blowpipe, blowhole (of a whale)', or – as a pars pro toto – 'whale'. The term is retained in the Russian word for the animal, kashalot ( кашалот), as well as in many other languages. The word cachalot came to English via French from Spanish or Portuguese cachalote, perhaps from Galician/Portuguese cachola 'big head'. The etymological dictionary of Corominas says the origin is uncertain, but it suggests that it comes from the Vulgar Latin cappula 'sword hilts'. The sperm whale is also known as the "cachalot", which is thought to derive from the archaic French for 'tooth' or 'big teeth', as preserved for example in the word caishau in the Gascon dialect (a word of either Romance ( See " Spermaceti organ and melon" below.) Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head. The name "sperm whale" is a clipping of "spermaceti whale". The species is protected by the International Whaling Commission moratorium, and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Sperm whaling was a major industry in the 19th century, depicted in the novel Moby-Dick. Beachcombers look out for ambergris as flotsam. Ambergris, a solid waxy waste product sometimes present in its digestive system, is still highly valued as a fixative in perfumes, among other uses. Spermaceti (sperm oil), from which the whale derives its name, was a prime target of the whaling industry, and was sought after for use in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles.
It has the largest brain on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human's. The sperm whale uses echolocation and vocalization with source level as loud as 236 decibels (re 1 µPa m) underwater. Plunging to 2,250 metres (7,382 ft), it is the third deepest diving mammal, exceeded only by the southern elephant seal and Cuvier's beaked whale. Mature males average 16 metres (52 ft) in length, with the head representing up to one-third of the animal's length. A mature sperm whale has no natural predators, although calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of killer whales (orcas). Females give birth every four to twenty years, and care for the calves for more than a decade. The females cooperate to protect and nurse their young.
Females and young males live together in groups, while mature males (bulls) live solitary lives outside of the mating season. The sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia. The sperm whale or cachalot ( Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator.
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