The Sperm Whale Reproductive System
About the Sperm Whale
Sperm whales are the largest whales with teeth. Adult males can grow up to 50-60 feet in length and can weigh about 40-50 tons. Females are different. They can be 30-40 feet and have a weight around 14-18 tons. The heart of the Sperm Whale can weight about 277 pounds. To put that in perspective, that is about two times the average adult human. The sperm whale got its name because of the wax it produces in the spermaceti organ, which is located in their heads.
The sperm whale can swim easily at 9 mph, but can swim up to 20-30 mph when swimming away from danger or enemies. Sperm whales are found in many open oceans, both in tropical and cool waters. Sperm whales live at the surface of the ocean but dive very deeply to catch the giant squid. Giant squid is their main food source. Sperm whales use echolocation to catch their prey in the dark oceanic depths. Mothers also use it it keep track of their young calf when they are diving to hunt; a calf cannot dive very deeply because it has to breathe much more frequently than the mother does.
Reproduction
Sperm whale breeding is not very dependent on the seasons. The gestation period is over 16 months and the calf is born tail first near the surface of the water. The newborn swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath; it is helped by its mother. Within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim. The newborn calf is about 13 feet long and weighs about 1 ton. The interval between births is about 3-4 years. A female reaches maturity at 9-10 years (males reach maturity at 18-19 years) and lives to be about 40 years old. On average, a female will give birth to about 7 calves. Frequently, other whales "assist" in the birth. The baby is nurtured with its mother's milk and is weaned in about 2 years. Calves drink 45 pounds (20 kg) of milk each day.
Sperm whales are the largest whales with teeth. Adult males can grow up to 50-60 feet in length and can weigh about 40-50 tons. Females are different. They can be 30-40 feet and have a weight around 14-18 tons. The heart of the Sperm Whale can weight about 277 pounds. To put that in perspective, that is about two times the average adult human. The sperm whale got its name because of the wax it produces in the spermaceti organ, which is located in their heads.
The sperm whale can swim easily at 9 mph, but can swim up to 20-30 mph when swimming away from danger or enemies. Sperm whales are found in many open oceans, both in tropical and cool waters. Sperm whales live at the surface of the ocean but dive very deeply to catch the giant squid. Giant squid is their main food source. Sperm whales use echolocation to catch their prey in the dark oceanic depths. Mothers also use it it keep track of their young calf when they are diving to hunt; a calf cannot dive very deeply because it has to breathe much more frequently than the mother does.
Reproduction
Sperm whale breeding is not very dependent on the seasons. The gestation period is over 16 months and the calf is born tail first near the surface of the water. The newborn swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath; it is helped by its mother. Within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim. The newborn calf is about 13 feet long and weighs about 1 ton. The interval between births is about 3-4 years. A female reaches maturity at 9-10 years (males reach maturity at 18-19 years) and lives to be about 40 years old. On average, a female will give birth to about 7 calves. Frequently, other whales "assist" in the birth. The baby is nurtured with its mother's milk and is weaned in about 2 years. Calves drink 45 pounds (20 kg) of milk each day.