Ambergris, a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in the digestive s…
The spermaceti organ contained a white liquid (sperm oil) that was mistaken for sperm by whalers. Cetaceans have developed horizontal flukes that increase the propulsion area driven by the back muscles.
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It was used for oil lamps and soaps in the 1800s to early 1900s.
Spermaceti, obtained primarily from the spermaceti organ, and sperm oil, obtained primarily from the blubber in the body, were much sought after by 18th, 19th, and 20th century whalers.
The sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding.
He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences—covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to the...The whale’s common name originated during the heyday of the
The Origin of the “Sperm Whale” Name: Bad Misunderstanding.
But sperm whales aren’t called that because of their actual sperm.
Flippers help to steer, while the back muscles, which are very large, drive the tail to propel the animal. 57 answer What perfume has whale vomit in it? Inside the case is a clear, liquid oil that when cooled, hardens to resemble white paraffin.
Not to mention, the sperm whale is also ranked second in deep diving, bested only by the elusive Cuvier’s beaked whales.
The head of the sperm whale contains an enormous fluid-filled organ (which whalers called the case). They can cruise at a speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/hr; 4.6 mph) and swim in spurts at up to 20 knots (37 km/hr; 23 mph).The sperm whale is the most evolutionarily modified of the toothed whales.
…but the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales.
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Much of the bulk of a sperm whale's enormous head is taken up by a barrel-shaped organ called the case.
Males can reach up to 62 feet (19 meters) – which is roughly 5 times the length of an elephant – while females can grow up to 39 feet (12 meters) in length.The most famous of them all is Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s great white whale from the classic 1851 novel of the same name.
Ah… a veritable gold mine of suppressed giggles in 6th or 7th grade, when first introduced to this literary American Classic.
What’s the Difference Between a Meteoroid, a Meteor, and a Meteorite?
Source: 54 answer Why some perfumes are so expensive? John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. 58 answer Why is it called a sperm whale?
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Because whalers thought this stuff looked like whale sperm, they called it spermaceti and named the animal a sperm whale. Like fish, almost all cetaceans possess a dorsal fin…
Despite the public's passing familiarity with sperm whales, many people have wondered why they are so named. Other theories suggest that it assists in the evacuation of the lungs prior to a deep dive, absorbs Sperm whales were once commercially valuable and were hunted for several centuries.
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History at your fingertips The sperm whale is one of the largest living animals, but how did this magnificent mammal receive its curious name?
92 answer What is Egyptian musk oil made from? It is not uncommon for sperm whales to dive for an hour or more and then spend about 10 minutes at the surface breathing once every 10 seconds.
Why is it so?
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