Species Details

@Gabriel Barathieu

Sperm whale Did you see this animal?

Scientific Name : Physeter macrocephalus
Family : Physeteridae
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Class : Mammalia
Phylum : Chordata
Habitat : Marine Neritic, Marine Oceanic
 
Description : the fin back whale, is the largest toothed whale in the world and one of the largest predators on earth. These whales are known for their unique appearance, which includes a large, block-shaped head and a body that tapers to a narrow tail.
these whales can grow up to 20 meters in length and weigh up to 57,000 kg. They have a dark brown or gray skin with a wrinkled appearance, and often have scars from battles with other whales or encounters with squid. The most distinctive feature of the whale is their large, bulbous head, which can account for up to one-third of their body length. The head houses the largest brain in the animal kingdom, and also contains a unique organ called the spermaceti organ, which produces a waxy substance called spermaceti.

These whales are found in all of the world's oceans, but are most commonly found in deep waters far from shore. They primarily feed on squid, but also eat fish and other cephalopods. They are known for their ability to dive to great depths, with some individuals diving to depths of over 2,000 meters and staying submerged for up to 90 minutes at a time.

These whales are highly social and live in family groups known as pods. Pods can range in size from just a few individuals to over 20. They communicate with each other using a range of vocalizations, including clicks and whistles. The clicks are the loudest sounds produced by any animal on earth, and are used for echolocation to find prey and communicate with other whales.
Sperm whales are known for their ability to dive to great depths in search of prey. They have been recorded diving to depths of over 2,000 meters and staying submerged for up to 90 minutes at a time. This is possible due to their physiological adaptations, such as the ability to store oxygen in their muscles and blood, and to reduce blood flow to non-essential organs while diving.

These whales are known for their intelligence, and are believed to have one of the largest brains of any animal. They have complex social structures, with family groups that can include several generations of females and their offspring.
Sperm whales primarily feed on squid, but also eat fish and other cephalopods. They are known for their unique hunting behavior, where they dive deep into the ocean to hunt for squid in complete darkness. They use echolocation to locate their prey, and then use their powerful jaws to capture and swallow the squid whole.
They still face threats from climate change, pollution, and accidental entanglement in fishing gear, and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation efforts are focused on protecting the whales from these threats and ensuring that their populations recover.
 
Distribution in Bangladesh
References:
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:wikipedia,iucnredlist.org; photo credit:Gabriel Barathieu (www.inaturalist.org/people/Gabriel Barathieu), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.