Pygmy Sperm Whale Vertebrae

$90.00

Pygmy Sperm Whales possess the shortest rostrum of current day cetaceans with a skull that is greatly asymmetrical. They also have a spermaceti organ that is present in their heads & in toothed whales of the family Physeteroidea.

Description

Pygmy Sperm Whale Vertebrae Replica measures 9 x 8 inches. Pygmy Sperm Whale Vertebrae is museum quality polyurethane resin cast. Made in USA. Our precise vertebrae can be used as a teaching tool, museum vertebrae exhibit, home décor vertebrae, or office décor vertebrae.

The Pygmy Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. The sperm whale’s unique body is unlikely to be confused with any other species.

The sperm whale’s distinctive shape comes from its very large, block-shaped head, which can be one quarter to one third of the animal’s length. The S-shaped blowhole is located very close to the front of the head and shifted to the whale’s left.

The Pygmy Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding. Females and young males live together in groups, while mature males (bulls) live solitary lives outside of the mating season.

The females cooperate to protect and nurse their young. Females give birth every four to 20 years, and care for the calves for more than a decade. A mature Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus has few natural predators, although calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of killer whales (orcas).

Mature Pygmy Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus males average 52 feet in length but some may reach 68 feet, with the head representing up to one-third of the animal’s length. Plunging to 7,382 feet, it is the second deepest diving mammal, exceeded only by Cuvier’s beaked whale.

The sperm whale uses echolocation and vocalization as loud as 230 decibels underwater. Pygmy Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus has the largest brain on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human’s. Sperm whale or Physeter macrocephalus can live 70 years or more.

Spermaceti (sperm oil), from which the whale derives its name, was a prime target of the whaling industry, and was sought after for use in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Ambergris, a solid waxy waste product sometimes present in its digestive system, is still highly valued as a fixative in perfumes, among other uses.

Pygmy Sperm Whale Facts:

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Kogiidae
Genus: Kogia
Species: K. breviceps
Binomial name: Kogia breviceps
Conservation status: Least concerned

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Additional information

Weight 3 lbs
Dimensions 9 × 8 in
World Whale Day - 3rd Sunday of February

World Whale Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of February each year to recognize whales and raise awareness of the threats they face. The day began in Maui, Hawaii in 1980 to honor the humpback whales that migrate to the islands each winter to give birth. The Pacific Whale Foundation organizes events that include parades, activities for children, and fun characters.