3 Facts About The Sperm Whale That May Surprise You
The sperm whale, or otherwise known as cachalot, is the largest
of the toothed whales, which makes it the largest toothed predator, and this is
the only reason why people buy the sperm
whale tooth to collect and
showcase. It is one of three extant species in the family of sperm whales and
the only living member of the genus Physeter. But this alone doesn’t make it
one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. Here are three facts about
the sperm whale that may surprise you:
They have the biggest
brain on Earth
A human brain weighs only three pounds, but an adult sperm
whale’s brain can weigh up to 16 or 17 pounds, which is more than five times
the brain of a human. But proportionally, its brain occupies only 0.2% of the
body weight, while a human brain occupies 2% of the body.
They are named after
the white, waxy substance they produce
Initially, when researchers found this white, waxy material,
which gets produced in a barrel-like organ inside the whale’s head, they
thought it had a kind of a reproductive function, and therefore, named it
“spermaceti,” which is Latin for whale seed. But after years of research, it
was found that the material has some function in maintaining the buoyancy of
the animal.
They are excellent
divers
You probably didn’t know this, but sperm whales have been
recorded diving to depths of more than 3,280 feet and can hold their breath for
90 minutes. Amazing, isn’t it?
In case you want to buy
a sperm whale tooth for your fossil collection, check the online store of Buried
Fossil Fuel, and add distinct fossils to your collection.
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