Family Physeteridae (Sperm Whales)

IDENTIFICATION
The Sperm Whale is the largest of the toothed whales. Male Sperm Whales may grow to 18.5 metres long, but only rarely do they exceed 15 metres; females are much smaller, usually 11 metres or less. The Sperm Whale has a huge head, which accounts for a third of its total length. Inside the head is the spermaceti organ, containing a clear liquid oil that hardens when cooled. The blowhole is on the top left side of the head - this offset location is unique to the Sperm Whale Family. The blow comes out at a sharp forward angle. The dorsal fin is humplike and a series of bumps extend along the dorsal ridge to the tail.

MEALS, MANNERS AND MIGRATION
Sperm Whales feed primarily on squid, but they also eat octopus and deep water fishes. Since their prey live at great depths, Sperm Whales have to be great divers - they often stay down for over an hour and dive to 2000 metres or more. Sperm Whales are social animals, travelling in pods ranging from ten to several hundred individuals. They shift northward during the summer in the northern hemisphere, and southward during the southern summer.

STATUS
We do not know the worldwide population of the Sperm Whale. In 1996, COSEWIC designated the Sperm whale not at risk in Canada.

DISTRIBUTION
The Sperm Whale is especially abundant off the outer edges of the world's continental shelves around upwelling areas. It is most common off B.C. in spring and summer. Females are most abundant off Vancouver Island, but males move farther north into the waters off the Queen Charlotte Islands.