Sperm Whale Species

The sperm whale family is scientifically known as physeteridae and consists of three different species in two different genera. The three species are the sperm whale, dwarf sperm whale and pygmy sperm whale. All three species are known as sperm whales because of an organ in their heads which contains an oily substance called spermiceti.

  1. Description

    • The largest of the three species is the sperm whale, which can reach 62 feet long and up to 110,000 lbs. About a third of the whale's total length is made up by its huge box-shaped head which holds the spermaceti organ. The pygmy sperm whale is the next largest, at around 10 feet and 800 lbs. The dwarf sperm whale reaches almost 9 feet and weighs up to almost 600 lbs. The pygmy and dwarf species have much smaller heads comparatively, but they are still prominent features. All three species have small lower jaws.

    Habitat and Range

    • All three species live in deep ocean or coastal regions. The sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale live in both cold and temperate ocean regions and have a highly migratory existence. The pygmy sperm whale tends to stay in the warmer tropical waters. None of the three species goes to extreme northern or southern polar regions. Sperm whales are generally more at home in the open ocean and are good divers, with the largest species able to dive up to 2 miles beneath the surface.

    Diet and Predators

    • The dwarf and pygmy sperm whales live on a diet of fish, shrimp, squid and octopus which they find while diving into deep, dark waters. The larger sperm whale feeds on a similar diet but can eat some larger prey such as sharks that are too big for the smaller whales. The adults of the larger species have few natural predators, although killer whales may pose a risk. The young pups of the larger species might be at risk from killer whales and sharks. The two smaller sperm whales are also at risk from the same predators even when fully grown.

    Life Cycle

    • All three species live in large family groups that can number up to 100 individuals. Males often compete for the right to mate with a female, a practice that sometimes leads to injuries. Once mating takes place, the pygmy and dwarf sperm whales give birth after around nine months. The larger sperm whale can take up to 16 months to give birth. All three only give birth to one live young that generally remains with its mother family group. The young dwarf and pygmy calves are weaned from their mothers' milk after a year; the larger species takes almost two years to wean.