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Humpback whale breach sequence. A breach or a lunge is a leap out of the water, also known as cresting. The distinction between the two is fairly arbitrary: cetacean researcher Hal Whitehead defines a breach as any leap in which at least 40% of the animal's body clears the water, and a lunge as a leap with less than 40% clearance. [2]
The sperm whale or cachalot [a] (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator.It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.
Physeter is a genus of toothed whales.There is only one living species in this genus: the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). [2] Some extremely poorly known fossil species have also been assigned to the same genus including Physeter antiquus (5.3–2.6 mya) from the Pliocene of France, [3] and Physeter vetus (2.6 mya – 12 ka) from the Quaternary of the U.S. state of Georgia. [4]
A gray whale does a bubble blast while foraging for food as seen via drone. Drone video of gray whales captured over seven years off Oregon has revealed new details about how the giant marine ...
Male sperm whales are sexually mature at 11 to 12 meters (36 to 39 ft), and physically mature at about 15 to 16 meters (49 to 52 ft) in length, on average. Larger-than-average females have been generally recorded around 12 to 13 meters (39 to 43 ft), and larger-than-average males are usually stated to reach a maximum of about 18 to 19 meters ...
[28] [12] Between dives, the sperm whale surfaces to breathe for about eight minutes before diving again. [29] Odontoceti (toothed whales) breathe air at the surface through a single, S-shaped blowhole, which is extremely skewed to the left. Sperm whales spout (breathe) 3–5 times per minute at rest, increasing to 6–7 times per minute after ...
The spermaceti organ in sperm whales is shaped like an elongated barrel and sits on top of the whale's melon. Historically, the spermaceti oil found within it was used in a variety of products – including lamp oils, candles, and lubricants – providing the economic basis for the sperm whaling industry. [ 2 ]
Pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales are unique among cetaceans in using a form of "ink" to evade predation in a manner similar to squid. Both species have a sac in the lower portion of their intestinal tracts that contains up to 12 liters of dark reddish-brown fluid, which can be ejected to confuse or discourage potential predators. [30]