Species group · Mammals
Sperm Whales
WAnimals has 3 species of sperm whale, spread across 2 families (Kogiidae, Physeteridae).
- 3 species
- 2 families
- 176 countries
- 101 parks
- Weight
- 135 kg – 63 t
- Length
- 2.1 m – 20 m
- Lifespan
- 20 – 65 years
Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 3.
All 3 species of sperm whales on WAnimals
Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.
Conservation status
1 especies in this group están en alguna categoría de riesgo real según la UICN.
See the global conservation statusWhere they live
Recorded in 176 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:
Where to see them
- Fernando de Noronha3 species
- Islas Ogasawara3 species
- Papahānaumokuākea3 species
- Agujero Azul de Belice (Parque Nacional del Agujero Azul)2 species
- Amami Gunto2 species
- Ao Phang Nga2 species
- Archipielago de Bazaruto2 species
- Archipielago de Revillagigedo2 species
- Arrecifes de Cozumel2 species
- Arrecifes de Tubbataha2 species
- Bacalar Chico2 species
- Bali Barat2 species
- Alor Archipelagodiving
- Blue Bay Marine Parkdiving
- Champagne Reefdiving
- Cristo degli Abissi (San Fruttuoso)diving
- El Hierro / La Restingadiving
- Fiordland (Milford Sound)diving
Did you know…
It has the largest brain of any known animal, weighing around 9.2 kg.
From Sperm Whale
It can stay submerged for 90 to 140 minutes hunting deep-sea squid, including the giant squid.
From Sperm Whale
It shows marked sexual dimorphism: males can weigh more than twice as much as females.
From Sperm Whale
Its head recalls a shark's, with a false gill marked behind the eye.
From Pygmy Sperm Whale
It releases a cloud of reddish gut fluid to confuse predators, much as a squid does.
From Pygmy Sperm Whale
It is one of the least known cetaceans, with too little data on its population.
From Pygmy Sperm Whale
It releases a cloud of reddish fluid, like a curtain of ink, to escape.
From Dwarf Sperm Whale
When threatened it releases a cloud of reddish fluid from an intestinal sac, creating a smokescreen under water just as a squid does with its ink.
From Dwarf Sperm Whale