Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, Caribbean Sea, Dominica, by Reinhard Dirscherl
Migration Illustrated
PRESENTS
Predators At Large
Migration takes a different turn when your hunting ground is measured on a global scale. Meet the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, the largest extant predator on planet Earth. These toothed marine mammals are enormous, with many growing to over fifty feet long and weighing nearly fifty tons. Sperm whales have the largest brains in the animal kingdom and are among the most intelligent animals.
Sperm Whale in the Caribbean Sea, Dominica, by Reinhard Dirscherl
Adult male sperm whales migrate on solo treks along varying seasonal routes throughout all the world’s oceans, while females and young whales form pods and remain in warmer tropical waters. Both sexes prefer depths several thousand feet below the surface, though they are often observed in shallow waters.
Sperm whales communicate and hunt with advanced echolocation by emitting a narrow beam of sound through water. They are the loudest animals, though humans can’t hear the frequency of their broadband clicks. They hunt both shallow and deep-sea creatures including crustaceans, sharks, skates, squid, and a variety of fish.
Sperm Whale in the Caribbean Sea, Dominica, by Reinhard Dirscherl
It is estimated that the global sperm whale population once numbered over a million individuals. With the inception of the commercial whaling industry, these giants were nearly hunted to extinction. To this day, these fascinating giants still face threats from fishing net entanglement, ocean contaminants, oil spills, underwater noise pollution, vessel strikes, and warming ocean waters. However, the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling has led to a comeback for sperm whales, with a population believed now to be over a hundred thousand.
Social behavior of Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, Caribbean Sea, Dominica, by Reinhard Dirscherl
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
Nose to Tail Length:
Females- up to 14 meters (45.9 feet)
Males- up to 24 meters (78.7 feet)
Estimated Weight:
Females- up to 25 metric tons (27.5 short tons)
Males- up to 50 metric tons (55.1 short tons)
Life Expectancy:
Up to 70 years
Nautical Speed:
4 knots (4.6 mph, 7.4 kph)
Breeding Season:
Late Winter to Early Fall (Spring Peak)
Global Population:
Estimated at 300,000 (recovering)
IUCN Red List Classification:
Vulnerable
Predators At Large
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A photographic journey along the migration routes of the world’s most fascinating species with some of the wildest road warriors this side of the universe. In color and in style.
