What is a sperm whale?

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) or cachalot / ˈ k æ ʃ ə ˌ l ɒ t, ˈ k æ ʃ ə ˌ l oʊ / 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. read more

The sperm whale has the largest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth. Learn more about the animal made famous in Herman Melville's “Moby Dick.” The sperm whale has the largest brain of any creature known to have lived on Earth. read more

The sperm whale belongs to the suborder of toothed whales and dolphins (odontocetes) and is one of the easiest whales to identify at sea. The angled bushy blow is distinctive from a distance as a sperm whale has a single blowhole on the left side. read more