PHYSETERIDAE, Gray, 1821

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2014, Physeteridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 4 Sea Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 300-317 : 300

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6607611
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6607586
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B70F87E5-4665-8731-43A5-FDE2F864FACA
treatment provided by	Diego
scientific name	PHYSETERIDAE
status

Treatment

Family PHYSETERIDAE View in CoL

(SPERM WHALE)

• Largest of the toothed whales with a disproportionately large, box-like head containing the spermaceti organ complex, and flat paddle-shaped foreflippers; conical teeth on narrow lower jaw; most sexually dimorphic cetacean in body length and weight.

• 1100-1500 cm. View Figure

• Cosmopolitan, inhabiting all the world’s oceans. View Figure

Deep, ice-free oceanic waters.

1 genus, 1 species, 1 taxon.

I species Vulnerable; none Extinct since 1600