Sperm Whale
Sperm Whales are found throughout the world’s oceans, although they avoid the polar regions and tend to prefer deep, open waters rather than shallow coastlines. At one time, the Sperm Whale was probably the single most hunted whale on earth. Despite this, the Sperm Whale does not appear to be endangered, as its population probably still numbers several hundred thousand.
The Sperm Whale is easy to identify, when though it spends much of its time deep underwater. It has wrinkled skin and a large, square head that makes up as much as one-third of its typical body length of 36 to 59 feet (11 to 18 meters). Although this is about the same length as a Sei Whale, most Sperm Whales weigh much more - as much as 50 tons (50,800 kilograms) in some cases.
Sperm Whales are best known for their diving abilities. How do they manage to move their heavy bodies deep underwater - and then have the energy to get back to the surface for another breath? The Sperm Whale’s square, bulbous head is filled with an oily substance called spermaceti, which is believed to control the whale’s buoyancy, or ability to float. When a Sperm Whale wants to dive, it cools the oil into a waxy substance, making itself heavier; when it wants to come back to the surface. It pumps blood around the spermaceti, heating it up and making itself more buoyant.
Did you know that the Sperm Whale is believed to v the deppest diverof all whgales? Scientists have discovered that Sperm Whales sometimes dive as dfar as 2 miles (3.2 kilometeras) velow the ocean’s surface. A diving Sperm Whale can reach speeds of better than 6.5 miles per hours comparable to some submarines!