Narwhal
Welcome to the Narwhal Quiz, where you can test your knowledge and learn more about one of the most mystical…
Sperm Whale
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Key Points
Welcome to the Sperm Whale Quiz, where you can test your knowledge and learn more about the largest toothed animal on the planet! Sperm whales have one of the largest global circulations of any species of marine mammal. They can be found in all deep oceans, from the Arctic and Antarctic all the way down to the Equator.
Take the quiz to test your knowledge of Sperm Whales if you believe you know everything there is to know about them or if you simply want to learn more about these massive animals!
Quiz Questions
- What is the scientific name for the sperm whale?
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- Balaenoptera musculus
- Physeter macrocephalus
- Orcinus orca
- Megaptera novaeangliae
- What is the average length of a male sperm whale?
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- 26-30 meters
- 16-20 meters
- 10-15 meters
- 21-25 meters
- What is the average length of a female sperm whale?
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- 10-15 meters
- 16-20 meters
- 11-13 meters
- 21-25 meters
- What is the average weight of a male sperm whale?
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- 61-80 tons
- 81-100 tons
- 41-60 tons
- 20-40 tons
- What is the average weight of a female sperm whale?
-
- 20-30 tons
- 20-40 tons
- 41-60 tons
- 61-80 tons
- What is the main food source of sperm whales?
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- Plankton
- Fish
- Krill
- Squid
- What is the maximum depth a sperm whale can dive to?
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- 2000 meters
- 3000 meters
- 500 meters
- 1000 meters
- What is the spermaceti organ in sperm whales used for?
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- Echolocation
- Breathing
- Thermoregulation
- Communication
- What is the purpose of the ambergris produced by sperm whales?
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- Thought to protect against squid beaks
- Thought to attract mates
- Unknown
- Thought to aid in digestion
- What is the social structure of sperm whales?
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- Large pods
- Small groups
- Solitary
- Pairs
- What is the gestation period of a sperm whale?
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- 6-9 months
- 9-12 months
- 12-16 months
- 14-18 months
- What is the average lifespan of a sperm whale?
-
- 50-60 years
- 30-40 years
- 70-80 years
- 20-30 years
- What is the primary threat to sperm whales?
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- Ship Collision
- Bycatch
- Climate change
- All of the Above
- What is the historical use of sperm whale oil?
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- Cosmetics
- All of the above
- Fuel for lamps
- Cooking oil
- What is the current status of the sperm whale population?
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- Endangered
- Vulnerable
- Threatened
- Least concern
- What is the largest toothed predator on Earth?
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- Blue whale
- Great white shark
- Killer whale
- Sperm whale
- What is the name of the famous novel that features a sperm whale as the main antagonist?
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- The Call of the Wild
- Moby-Dick
- Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
- The Old Man and the Sea
History Of The Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, also known as a cachalot, belongs to the genus Physeter macrocephalus in the family Cetacea and is the only living member of this genus. It is the largest of the toothed whales and the last common ancestor was in the family Physeteroidea. Although it appears that they separated from the family Physeteroidea fairly early, over 20 million years ago. The most primitive fossil found dates back to the late Paleogene Period, or Oligocene, about 28 million to 23 million years ago. This fossil possesses similar features that are specific to the sperm whale, like the asymmetric snout.
The majority of the fossils found for this mammal are from 23 million to 5 million years ago, during the Miocene era. The only difference from the modern-day species is in their facial structure and amount of teeth.
Interesting Sperm Whale Facts
The sperm whale has been written about for centuries but the most famous account was by Herman Melville in his 1851 novel, Moby Dick, which was based on the multiple accounts of sperm whale encounters. One was of a white whale called Mocha Dick who was named after the island of Mocha, Chile, where he was first sighted. This whale was reported to have destroyed over 20 ships before it was eventually caught by whalers. The other was from the former captain of the whaling ship, Essex, that was rammed by a sperm whale. Here are more interesting facts about the mighty sperm whale:
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About the Author
Melissa Bauernfeind
Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.
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