Sperm Whales (Galapagos)

The sperm whale is a marine mammal species which has the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head, due to its resemblance to semen. A bull can grow up to 20.5 metres long. It is the largest living toothed animal. The head can take up to one-third of the animal's length. It feeds on squid and fish, diving as deep as 3 kilometres (9,800 ft), which makes it the deepest diving mammal. Its diet includes giant squid and colossal squid. It is the largest living predator and possibly the largest ever. Over most of the period from the early 18th century until the late 20th century, the sperm whale was hunted to obtain spermaceti and other products, such as sperm oil and ambergris. Spermaceti found many important uses, such as candles, soap, cosmetics and machine oil. Due to its size, the sperm whale could sometimes defend itself effectively against whalers. As a result of whaling, the sperm whale is currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. The sperm whale has few natural predators, since few are strong enough to successfully attack a healthy adult, however orcas attack and kill the young ones. The sperm whale can live for more than 70 years.