Description
The Sperm Whale is the largest predatory animal living on Earth today, reaching nearly 70 feet in length. It hunts in the deep ocean, and its prey often includes the second largest living predator – the Colossal Squid. Sperm Whales are known for their large heads, which contain oil called spermaceti. It is this substance, once commonly used in lamps and candles, that gives the whale its common name.
- Scientific Name: Physeter macrocephalus
- Characteristics: This Sperm Whale figure includes the whale’s most distinctive feature – its huge, square-shaped head. The head of a Sperm Whale can be as much as one third of its total body length. This whale has a number of additional features that make it unique among other whales, including its wrinkled and rippled skin, its triangular tail, and its off-center blowhole.
- Size and Color: The Sperm Whale figure is nearly 9 inches long and almost 2 inches to the top of its dorsal ridge. It is a little longer than a large pair of scissors. Its coloration is a dark gray, with white splotches around its jaw and glossy black eyes.
- The Sperm Whale is part of the Wild Safari® Sea Life collection.
- All of our products are Non-toxic and BPA free.
History:
Sperm whales were hunted extensively from the 1700s to the 1900s for the spermaceti oil in their large heads, which is believed to help the whale sense its prey in the darkness of the deep sea through amplifying its echolocation. Echolocation is a sonar-like process in which the whale sends out sounds, which bounce back to the whale and provide information about its environment. Spermaceti was used for making lamps, candles, soaps, and make-up. The whales were also hunted for a substance in their digestive tracts called ambergris, which was used in perfumes.
Today, the species is protected nearly worldwide and commercial whaling has been largely halted globally. However, the Sperm Whale still faces threats from becoming tangled in fishing nets, and from being struck by large ships. Pollution also affects Sperm Whales, particularly by eating too much plastic garbage which has become very common in the ocean. The Sperm Whale is currently listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Recommended Age: 3+
- Size in cm: 22.4 L x 7.2 W x 5.5 H
- Size in inches: 8.82 L x 2.83 W x 2.17 H
- UPC: 095866002770
