Physeter catodon Linnaeus 1758

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Cetacea, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 1, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 723-743 : 737

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7316519
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1CC76BFD-207E-4EE9-A515-7FDF1AB9754C
treatment provided by	Guido
scientific name	Physeter catodon Linnaeus 1758
status

Treatment

Physeter catodon Linnaeus 1758 , Syst. Nat., 10th ed., Vol. 1: 76 View Cited Treatment .

Type Locality: "Habitat in Oceano Septentrionali.", restricted to Netherlands, Middenpiat by Husson and Holthuis (1974).

Vernacular Names: Sperm Whale.

Synonyms: Physeter australasianus Desmoulins 1822 ; Physeter australis Gray 1846 ; Physeter macrocephalus Linnnaeus 1758 .

Distribution: Worldwide: antarctic and cold-temperate waters (northern hemisphere) to tropical waters.

Conservation: CITES – Appendix I; U.S. ESA – Endangered; IUCN – Vulnerable as P. macrocephalus .

Discussion: Neotype designated by Husson and Holthuis (1974:212). Linnaeus used both catodon and macrocephalus in the 10th edition. P. catodon has line priority and, according to Linnaeus' diagnoses, is the only name applicable. See Hershkovitz (1966 a:121), Schevill (1986, 1987 b), Holthuis (1987), and Rice (1989, who also reviewed the species).