WoRMS taxon details

Physeteridae

136985  (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:136985)

accepted
Family
Catodontidae F. Cuvier, 1836 · unaccepted (synonym)

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marine, terrestrial
Not documented
Description The sperm whale is the largest toothed cetacean and has the highest degree of sexual dimorphism. There is a low dorsal...  
Description The sperm whale is the largest toothed cetacean and has the highest degree of sexual dimorphism. There is a low dorsal hump, followed by a series of crenulations. It has a large head with a squarish profile, narrow underslung lower jaw, and functional teeth only in the upper haw (these fit into sockets in the upper jaw). The blowhole is located at the left front of the head. The head is highly modified, and is divided into sections called the 'junk' and the spermaceti organ, or 'case'. The spermaceti organ is a large oil-filled reservoir, the function of which is controversial. Sperm whales have a dish shape to the facial area of the skull, extreme cranial asymmetry, and a long rostrum. Sperm whales are known to be capable of very deep, long dives. <123> [details]
Fordyce, E.; Perrin, W.F. (2024). World Cetacea Database. Physeteridae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=136985 on 2024-11-09
Date
action
by
2004-12-21 15:54:05Z
created
2005-03-29 08:12:19Z
changed
2008-08-20 11:25:36Z
checked

Creative Commons License The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License


basis of record van der Land, J. (2001). Tetrapoda, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 375-376 (look up in IMIS) [details] 

additional source Jefferson, T.A.; Leatherwood, S.; Webber, M.A. (1993). Marine mammals of the world. <em>FAO Species identification guide.</em> FAO: Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-5-103292-0. VIII, 320 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] 
Unreviewed
Description The sperm whale is the largest toothed cetacean and has the highest degree of sexual dimorphism. There is a low dorsal hump, followed by a series of crenulations. It has a large head with a squarish profile, narrow underslung lower jaw, and functional teeth only in the upper haw (these fit into sockets in the upper jaw). The blowhole is located at the left front of the head. The head is highly modified, and is divided into sections called the 'junk' and the spermaceti organ, or 'case'. The spermaceti organ is a large oil-filled reservoir, the function of which is controversial. Sperm whales have a dish shape to the facial area of the skull, extreme cranial asymmetry, and a long rostrum. Sperm whales are known to be capable of very deep, long dives. <123> [details]
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LanguageName 
Japanese マッコウクジラ科  [details]