Sperm Whale in the Atlantic Ocean

For those who want to go snorkeling Freeport Bahamas is the perfect spot. There are hundreds of marine animals swimming in crystal clear, tropical waters, making it an ideal way to spend a day for visitors and locals alike. While smaller fish may be more commonly sighted, there is also a chance of spotting one of the most majestic and extraordinary animals on earth while on a snorkeling trip. The sperm whale, the largest toothed whale on earth, can sometimes be seen in the waters near the Bahamas.

Sperm Whale Appearance

The most astounding thing about the sperm whale's appearance is its sheer size. Males can grow to be almost 70 feet long and to weigh an absolutely astounding 125,000 pounds. Females are generally a good bit smaller, but even at half the size that is a huge animal. Like all marine mammals, they have a blowhole on top of their heads, but in the case of the sperm whale it is S shaped and not perfectly centered, being more on the left side of their head. Unlike dolphins they do not have a dorsal fin, but they do have ridges on their back, including one particularly large one that is referred to as their "hump." The skin on their back is also wrinkly, contrasting with the smooth skin of many marine mammals.

They are generally a dark color, though albino whales have been spotted. Their blocky head takes up almost a third of their body, though their jaw is almost comically undersized, being long and much narrower than their head. In addition to being the largest toothed predator in the world, they also have the largest brain. Though their anatomy has adapted to their frequent deep dives in various ways, the bones of older whales still show signs of decompression sickness.

Males and female sperm whales develop at a different rate. While female whales are sexually mature by age 9, male whales take twice as long to become adults. On the other hand, male whales grow to a much larger size and can live in colder, deeper waters. They are generally more solitary than the females and only re-enter a pod when it is time to mate, afterwards leaving again. Females gestate their young for 14-16 months, and may breastfeed them for several years afterwards. The milk is much thicker than human milk, which is common for marine mammals. They only give birth to one calf at a time, and may go years or even decades between births. Like human females, their fertility declines drastically at about age 40. Sperm whales can live to be about 60 or 70 if they can avoid illness or hunters. Though they do not have many natural predators, aside from humans or the monster squid they like to hunt, they will form a circle around a vulnerable calf and use their tails to beat away any threat.

Sperm Whale Eating Habits

Sperm whale mainly eat squid and octopus, though they may eat some fish as well. They can dive up to 7,000 feet, more than any other mammal except Cuvier's Beaked Whale, and hold their breath up to 90 minutes in pursuit of dinner. They have four stomachs, with the first of them being designed to crush their still living prey and kill it. They can eat up to a ton a day, which makes their deep hunting dives necessary.

As large as they are, many of them have scars from battles with the enormous deep sea squids they hunt. They have the longest intestinal track in the world, a suitable record to hold considering their overall size. They also use echolocation when hunting, and have the ability to make the loudest sound of any animal. The spermaceti found in their head aids in amplifying this sound. When hunting, they are able to turn upside down and can swim up to 25 miles per hour.

Sperm Whale Habitats

Sperm whale are found all over the world in all the oceans, though females tend to stay more in the lower latitudes where the water is warmer. These whales prefer deep off-shore locations where they can easily dive and hunt, but can occasionally also be spotted closer to shore. Males, who are solitary hunters, can be found in higher latitudes where the water is colder.