Fun Facts About the Sperm Whale

by Max Moreno, age 9

Meet the sperm whale. It gets its name from an oil wax substance from an organ called the spermaceti. This organ helps the whale swim and dive easily.

Sperm whales have a lifespan of 70 years and can be found in the North and South Pole. Their diet consists of squid, fish, crabs and other creatures. A male sperm whale can weigh about 50 tons and a female can weigh from 18 to 20 tons.

In terms of their anatomy, the eye of a sperm whale is about the same size as a basketball. They have two breathing holes at the end of their head. Additionally, the sperm whale is the fourth largest whale in the world.

The teeth of this beast can measure about seven inches. This whale uses sonar and echolocation to hunt in dark depths of the ocean. A sperm whale can dive about 3000 feet and hold its breath for 90 minutes. One hit from the sperm whale's fluke is about 230 decibels. Decibels are a degree to measure sound. A click of a sperm whale is equal to 200 decibels.

Sperm whales travel in packs which make them even stronger in battle. Orcas are a threat to these mammals and usually are the only whales that hunt sperm whales. Besides Orcas, humans also hunt these creatures for the oils that are produced from the whales’ head.

Sperm whales have increible capabilities and traits, it is important to continuing learning about these creatures and how we can protect them moving forward.

[Source: The Encyclopedia of Animals ]