Orca (Orcinus orca)
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale, a male can reach up to 18 m and 50 t. It is one of the best divers amongst the marine mammals: it can reach depths up to 1200 m during dives of over 1h length. Down there it is hunting for its main prey: 10 m long giant squids.
Presence in the Strait of Gibraltar: April to July
Other names: great sperm whale, pot whale, spermacet whale, cachalot, cachelot
| Suborder: | toothed whales |
|---|---|
| Family: | Physeteridae (sperm whales) |
| Size: | 11 - 18 m |
| Weight: | 20 - 50 t |
| Diet: | squid, other cephalopodes, fish, crustaceans |
| Status: | vulnerable |
Features:
- dark grey or brown body
- pale patch on underside
- head is about one third of body length
- blowhole usually on left side of head
- short, stubby flippers
- dorsal ridge in rear third of body (instead of a dorsal fin)
- very broad flukes with distinct notch
- prefers deep waters
- bushy blow, which is projected forward to the left