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Sperm Whale | Daily Animal Facts

Animal profile

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

MammaliaDeep offshore waters, typically beyond the continental shelf edgeVulnerable

Field profile

The sperm whale is the largest toothed animal, with males reaching about 16 metres and a head that occupies roughly a third of the body. It hunts squid and fish at depths often beyond a kilometre, guided entirely by echolocation. Females and young live in long-lasting social units while adult males range alone.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2026-02-22

Sperm Whale

Sperm whale clicks are the loudest animal sounds

Measured close to the whale, a sperm whale's echolocation click can exceed 230 decibels relative to one micropascal at one metre. The sound is produced not in the throat but by an air-driven clapper at the front of the enormous nose.

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