Sperm whale

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) or cachalot /ˈkæʃəˌlɒt, ˈkæʃəˌloʊ/ is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of 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.
The sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding.[3] Females and young males live together in groups while mature males live solitary lives outside of the mating season. The females cooperate to protect and nursetheir young. Females give birth every four to twenty years, and care for the calves for more than a decade. A mature sperm whale has few natural predators, although calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of orcas.
Mature males average 16 metres (52 ft) in length but some may reach 20.5 metres (67 ft), with the head representing up to one-third of the animal's length. Plunging to 2,250 metres (7,382 ft), it is the second deepest diving mammal, following only the Cuvier's beaked whale.[4]
The sperm whale is a prominent user of echolocation and communication, with vocalization as loud as 230 decibels (re 1 µPa at 1 m) underwater.[5] It has the largest brain of any animal on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human's. Sperm whales can live for more than 60 years.[6]
Spermaceti oil (called "sperm" for short), from which the whale derives its name, was a prime target of the whaling industry, and was dominant for use in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Ambergris is a solid waxy waste product from its digestive system. It is still highly valued as a fixative in perfumes and other uses. It remains as flotsam from deceased whales, and is sought by beachcombers.[7] The species is now protected by a whaling moratorium, and is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures
Category:Whales
Category:Mammals