What is the sperm whale named after?

The head of the sperm whale contains an enormous fluid-filled organ (which whalers called the case). During whale harvests, this organ, now called the spermaceti organ, was discovered to contain a white liquid that whalers mistook for the sperm of the whale. read more

The name sperm whale is a truncation of spermaceti whale. Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head . read more

When devising names there’s always some degree of uncertainty involved. Even naming your child can be a difficult task, and it will usually involve compromise to some extent. Sometimes there can be comical reasons behind the name, as with the naming of the town and island of Dildo in Canada. read more

During whale harvests, this organ, now called the spermaceti organ, was discovered to contain a white liquid that whalers mistook for the sperm of the whale. The spermaceti organ is unique to sperm whales, although bottlenose whales possess a similar organ. read more