Search Results for: sperm whale

Eyes in the Sky: Drones Transform Sperm Whale Research

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Traditional sperm whale identification has long relied on photographing tail flukes from boats, capturing the distinctive notches and patterns that make each whale unique. However this method has a significant limitation: researchers can only identify whales when they perform their characteristic deep dive, raising their tails above the surface. Now, drone technology is opening new […]

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Science is a marathon: what long-term opportunistic data can tell us about New Zealand sperm whales

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We all have in mind these targeted and organized research projects, where scientists go into the field and collect specific data. But not everything in the scientific realm is as predictable as that. Some events, such as cetacean strandings, are unexpected and may only happen a few times per year. Still, there can be a

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Sizing them up! Scientists use sound to measure sperm whales

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Studying large creatures, like whales can be difficult. Especially when they spend most of their time deep underwater. But scientists have become pretty creative in their approach to studying them, especially when it comes to quantitative attributes. In this post, we will discuss how scientists can measure the size of sperm whales by using their

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Kogia: dwarf and pygmy sperm whales

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Whalecome to our new whales of the month: the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales. Like their cousin, the sperm whale, they like to spend most of their time deep underwater to hunt their favorite prey: squid and deep-sea fish, and crustaceans. Did you know they can release “ink” from their butts to confuse predators?! Find

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Pooping Gold? The Valuable Secret of the Sperm Whale

/ / Whale Science /

It is a solid, waxy, greyish substance that smells: Ambergris, is also known as sperm whale vomit (or poop). It has often been described as one of the world’s strangest natural occurrences. You may have heard about it for its use in the production of perfumes and fragrances. You’re probably asking yourself now why smelly

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Protecting the Canary Islands’ sea and its sperm whales

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This post talks about the future of sperm whales and other deep-divers in the Canary Islands. Sperm whales are such amazing animals. These whales are the world’s largest toothed whales, living up to 70 years. These giant whales are quite similar to submarine: they can deep-dive while holding their breath for about 45 minutes below

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The sperm whale’s impressive body

/ / Whale of the Month / ,

The sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus is one of our favorite animals on earth. This fascinating whale is one of the most recognizable with its square-shaped head. It looks like it comes from another world. First, the name, “sperm whale,” resulted from whalers misinterpreting the function of the “spermaceti” oil in the forehead of the

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Can Whales Eat and Swallow Humans?

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Whales are unlikely to swallow humans due to their anatomy and behavior. Baleen whales, with small esophagi, filter-feed on tiny prey, while toothed whales have larger throats but do not treat humans as prey. Encounters are generally non-aggressive and driven by curiosity. Historical anecdotes and myths exaggerate these possibilities.

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Got balls? Not like the Southern Right Whale!

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In our world, we say size does not matter. However, we find animals in the wild kingdom with various large parts: elephants have large trunks, baboons have oversized butts … and male southern right whales have massive testes. This article will explain the unique features of whales’ reproductive systems and explore the potential reasons for

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