Sperm Whale
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| phylum | Chordata | The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales. It is the only living member of genus Physeter, and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale. Its name derives from a waxy liquid called spermaceti, found in its enormous head. The sperm whale is also known as the cachalot.
Mature males average at 16 metres (52 ft) in length but can reach 20.5 metres (67 ft), with the head representing up to one-third of the animal's length. The sperm whale feeds primarily on giant and colossal squid. Plunging to 3 kilometres (9,800 ft) for prey, it is the deepest diving mammal. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Toothed whales |
| class | Mammalia | |
| infraclass | Eutheria | |
| order | Cetacea | |
| suborder | Odontoceti | |
| family | Physeteridae | |
| species | Physeter macrocephalus |
