Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
- Scientific name
- Physeter macrocephalus
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Epic
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean, Caribbean & Tropical Atlantic
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Vulnerable
Did you know?
The sperm whale has the largest brain of any animal on Earth and can dive more than 2,000 meters deep, holding its breath for over an hour to hunt giant squid.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.