ENDANGERED WHALES

      Sperm Whale:

      (Physeter macrocephalus)

      Unlike the other great whales on the endangered species list, the sperm whale is a toothed whale. It is the largest of the toothed whales, reaching a length of 18.5 meters (60 feet) in males and 12.5 meters (40 feet) in females. Sperm whales are noted for their dives, which can last up to an hour and a half and go as deep as 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) under the surface. It is the most abundant of all the endangered whales, with an estimated population of two million. Sperm whales feed mainly on squid, including the giant squid.

          Back to Previous
      YOTO Home The International Year of the Ocean Home Page is a publication of the
      NOAA Home Page Design and Construction Company