WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SPERM WHALES?
6 years, 11 months ago

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SPERM WHALES?

Daily Mail  

Sperm Whales belong to the suborder of toothed whales and dolphins, known as odontocetes, and is one of the easiest whales to identify at sea. Whalers thought that their large square heads were huge reservoirs for sperm, because when the head was cut open it was found to contain a milky white substance. An intestinal secretion called ambergris found in sperm whales was used as a fixative in the perfume industry. Whalers thought that their large square heads were huge reservoirs for sperm, because when the head was cut open it was found to contain a milky white substance Its skin is dark or brownish grey, with white markings around the lower jaw and underside. The sperm whale is one of the deepest diving mammals in the world, regularly making dives of up to 400 metres sometimes reaching depths of up to two to three kilometres It is thought to be able to hold its breath for up to two hours, although 45 minutes is the average dive time.

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History of this topic

Scientists document remarkable sperm whale 'phonetic alphabet'
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Scientists document remarkable sperm whale 'phonetic alphabet'

The Hindu  

The various species of whales inhabiting Earth's oceans employ different types of vocalisations to communicate. We are studying the calls in their behavioral contexts next to understand what sperm whales might be communicating about," said Ms. Sharma. "All of these different codas that we see are actually built by combining a comparatively simple set of smaller pieces," said study co-author …

Scientists discover sperm whale ‘phonetic alphabet’
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Scientists discover sperm whale ‘phonetic alphabet’

Al Jazeera  

Scientists studying sperm whales have discovered that they communicate through a sort of “phonetic alphabet”, enabling them to build a rough equivalent of what humans refer to as words and phrases. The study, published on Tuesday, involved sperm whales living around the Caribbean island of Dominica, describing how they communicate by squeezing air through their respiratory systems to make rapid …

Sperm whale language building blocks identified by scientists
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Sperm whale language building blocks identified by scientists

Associated Press  

ROSEAU, Dominica — Scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island of Dominica have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help better protect them. “We’re now starting to find the first building blocks of whale language,” said David Gruber, …

Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Like many whales and dolphins, sperm whales are highly …

Sperm whales drop 'bubble of poo' off WA to prevent orca attack in rarely recorded encounter
1 year ago

Sperm whales drop 'bubble of poo' off WA to prevent orca attack in rarely recorded encounter

ABC  

In short: A rare encounter is witnessed as orca attempt to kill a massive sperm whale off WA's south coast. Sperm whales off Western Australia's southern coast have successfully defended themselves from an attack by a pod of orca by defecating at will, creating a "cloud of diarrhoea". Defensive defecation saves ocean giants Ms Tucker said sperm whales had developed …

Walkers are warned to stay away from three 60ft sperm whales washed up on beaches in the North of England - because the carcasses may explode
1 year ago

Walkers are warned to stay away from three 60ft sperm whales washed up on beaches in the North of England - because the carcasses may explode

Daily Mail  

Beach walkers have warned to stay away from the bodies of three 60ft sperm whales washed ashore from the North Sea - amid fears the carcasses could explode and cover them in entrails. In November last year, a 54ft fin whale found washed ashore on Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, garnered headlines amid fears that it too would explode. The …

Three sperm whales spotted along O.C. coast, a rare sighting of endangered mammal
1 year, 9 months ago

Three sperm whales spotted along O.C. coast, a rare sighting of endangered mammal

LA Times  

The Orange County coast draws all sorts of tourists this time of year, but some recent visitors are making a particularly big splash. A trio of sperm whales — believed to be adult males, each about 50 to 60 feet long — has been spotted several times this past week, rare and positive sightings considering that this species’ numbers have …

More than 200 whales found beached in Tasmania; Australian rescue efforts underway
2 years, 6 months ago

More than 200 whales found beached in Tasmania; Australian rescue efforts underway

LA Times  

A rescuer pours water on one of scores of stranded whales on Ocean Beach on Tasmania’s west coast, in Australia. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, just days after 14 sperm whales were found beached on an island off the Australian state’s northwestern coast. The pod, which is stranded on Ocean Beach in Macquarie Harbor, appears …

Megalodon feasted on the noses of sperm whales
2 years, 9 months ago

Megalodon feasted on the noses of sperm whales

Daily Mail  

Megalodon — the biggest shark that ever lived — ate sperm whales because it was attracted by their huge noses, a new study claims. Fearsome: Megalodon — the biggest shark that ever lived — ate sperm whales because it was attracted by their huge noses, a new study claims. A series of bite marks on 7 million-year-old fossilised sperm whale …

Sperm whales form BROMANCES that can last for at least five years
3 years, 11 months ago

Sperm whales form BROMANCES that can last for at least five years

Daily Mail  

Male sperm whales can form long-lasting bromances with other males, a study has found. Scroll down for video Male sperm whales may form long-lasting bromances with other males, a study has found. Pictured, two male whales seen together in August 2013 and September 2013 Sperm whales, like African elephants, are highly intelligent, social creatures which exist in matriarchal groups. As …

Sperm whale washed up on Wales beach had plastic sheeting in stomach
5 years, 4 months ago

Sperm whale washed up on Wales beach had plastic sheeting in stomach

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A baby sperm whale found washed-up on a beach in Wales had …

Weakened sperm whale spotted off Den Helder coast
6 years, 9 months ago

Weakened sperm whale spotted off Den Helder coast

NL Times  

A sperm whale was spotted in the North Sea, just off the coast of Den Helder on Monday morning. The Coast Guard took a photo and sent it to SOS Dolfijn, who identified it as a sperm whale. "The first observations provide an image of an emaciated, weakened and possibly disoriented animal", according to SOS Dolfijn. Moreover it is very …

Marine experts examine dead sperm whale after it washes up on beach in Edinburgh
11 years, 2 months ago

Marine experts examine dead sperm whale after it washes up on beach in Edinburgh

Daily Mail  

Marine experts examine dead sperm whale after it washes up on beach in Edinburgh Young ani mal was discovered on Scottish beach early this morning Arrangements are now being made with Edinburgh City Council for removal The animals usually reside in deeper water in north and west Scotland A young sperm whale washed up dead on a beach in Scotland …

Into the blue of the Azores: It's even easier for whale-watchers to catch one of the planet's great spectacles
12 years, 11 months ago

Into the blue of the Azores: It's even easier for whale-watchers to catch one of the planet's great spectacles

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The central and youngest island of Pico – only 3,000 years old, and also known as Ilha Negra, black island …

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