Why the sperm whale has a huge head. Spermaceti is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found in the animal's head. Asked in Squid, The Difference Between, Sperm Whales 2 min readMany people, including us, have definitely wondered why sperm whales (also known as cachalot) are named sperm whales at some point in our lives. (As far as we can tell, Moby Dick was the only sperm whale that delivered a unique brand of karmic justice to one-legged sea captains bent on vengeance.) Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Some 2,000 litres of it lay in a huge sac called the spermaceti organ. Whaling: Until relatively recently, it was legal and profitable for humans to hunt whales. So, why the heck are they called sperm whales? It was sought after as a fixative in perfumery. In recent years, scientists have begun to make some amazing discoveries about sperm whale society. 0 Comment. It is called "Ambergris" Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale and the largest predator that hunts individual prey. ... And this is one of the reasons why sperm whales were killed in large numbers. 3. Sperm Whales Are Not True Whales Because They Have True Teeth And NOT Baleen. ... It’s not only sperm whales that have this oil-filled organ. The culture of sperm whales. 2. Is the reason really because of their passing resemblance with that? The name derives from the late Latin sperma ceti (both words loaned from Greek) meaning "sperm of the whale" (strictly, "sperm of the sea monster"), as people mistook the substance for the whale's semen. Pods include females and their young, while males may roam solo or move from group to group. Why on Earth are sperm whales named after the male sex cells? Why are sperm whales called sperm whales? Why are sperm whales called sperm whales? The sperm whale’s head contains a huge fluid-filled organ called spermaceti organ. It is called "Ambergris" Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Best Answers. Sperm whale" is an apocopation of Spermaceti Whale. why is a sperm whale called a sperm whale. It was sought after as a fixative in perfumery. Question: Why are sperm whales called sperm whales? These whales are present in all deep oceans worldwide. THANKS to e-mail and starbulletin.com, I hear from a lot more readers than I used to.Here are a few recent questions and comments: A reader named Dan writes: "Mahalo for the interesting column on the sperm whale ().You provided many interesting details on the creatures' physiology, diet, history and commercial uses. Despite the public's passing familiarity with sperm whales, many people have wondered why they are so named. Sperm whales are often spotted in groups (called pods) of some 15 to 20 animals. Sperm Whales Do NOT Eat Krill Or Shrimps, They Mainly Eat Squid And Fish, They Might Even Eat Sharks. Or is there another reason behind […] Large males are 20 meters long, though the average is 16 meters. Sperm whales routinely hunt for food at dives around 2,000 or more feet (610 meters) deep. 1. Porpoises. By Mik | July 19, 2019. Sperm whales have cultural groups, made up of ‘clans’ of different whales, which use patterns of clicks (called codas) that are unique to that group. Sperm whales (Physeter catodon), or cachalots, are the largest of the toothed whales, with males up to 19 meters (62 feet) long—more than five times the length of a large elephant—and females up to 12 meters (39 feet) in length. Sperm whale Description: A dramatic-looking beast with a cliff-like snout and a massive, streamlined body, the sperm whale is one of the world’s most imposing creatures. The common name of the sperm whale originated at the beginning of the 19th century during the peak of the commercial whaling industry. During whale harvests, this organ was discovered to contain a white semi-liquid, waxy substance that whalers mistook for the sperm, hence the name of the whale!