Why is sperm whale called a sperm whale??

Sperm whales are named after spermaceti, a waxy substance found in their massive heads. Early whalers mistakenly believed this oil-like substance was the whale's sperm. Spermaceti was highly valued for making candles, lubricants, and cosmetics, driving extensive commercial whaling of this species.

How Long Can A Whale Hold Its Breath??

Blue whales reach up to 100 feet (30 meters) and weigh up to 200 tons.'s beaked whales have been recorded diving for over 3 hours. Most baleen whales like blue whales and humpbacks typically hold their breath for 10-30 minutes during normal dives.

How Big Is The Blue Whale??

Regarding "how big is the blue whale": Size varies by sex, with males typically larger than females in most species.

How Big Is A Humpback Whale??

Regarding "how big is a humpback whale": Humpback whales typically measure 40-60 feet (12-18 meters) in length.

How Long Is A Sperm whale?

Quick Facts

Attribute	Details
Type	Marine mammal
Family	Cetacea
Habitat	Oceans worldwide
Conservation	Protected in most countries
Research Status	Ongoing scientific study

The Short Answer

Adult male sperm whales measure 15-18 meters (49-59 feet), making them the largest toothed whales and the largest toothed predators to ever exist on Earth. Females are considerably smaller at 11-12 meters (36-39 feet). The largest sperm whale ever reliably measured was 20.7 meters (68 feet). Their most distinctive feature is their enormous head, which comprises 25-35% of their total body length and contains the largest brain of any animal.

Sperm Whale Length Specifications

Size by Sex

Category	Males	Females	Difference
Average length	15-18 m (49-59 ft)	11-12 m (36-39 ft)	Males 40-50% longer
Maximum length	20.7 m (68 ft)	14 m (46 ft)	Males 48% longer
Average weight	35-45 tons	12-14 tons	Males 3x heavier
Maximum weight	57 tons	24 tons	Males 2.4x heavier
Head length	5-6 m (16-20 ft)	3-4 m (10-13 ft)	Males larger

Length at Different Life Stages

Life Stage	Age	Male Length	Female Length
Newborn	0 days	4 m (13 ft)	4 m (13 ft)
Weaning	2-3 years	6-7 m (20-23 ft)	6-7 m (20-23 ft)
Juvenile	3-10 years	8-11 m (26-36 ft)	7-9 m (23-30 ft)
Subadult	10-20 years	11-14 m (36-46 ft)	9-11 m (30-36 ft)
Adult	20+ years	15-18 m (49-59 ft)	11-12 m (36-39 ft)
Old adult	50+ years	16-18+ m (52-59+ ft)	11-12 m (36-39 ft)

The Remarkable Head

The sperm whale’s head is unlike any other animal:

Head Proportions

Measurement	Males	Females	Notes
Head length	5-6 m (16-20 ft)	3-4 m (10-13 ft)	Rectangular shape
% of body	25-35%	25-28%	Largest ratio of any whale
Spermaceti organ	2-3 tons	0.5-1 ton	Oil-filled organ
Brain weight	7-9 kg	6-7 kg	Largest of any animal
Lower jaw	4-5 m	2.5-3.5 m	Contains 18-26 teeth per side

What’s Inside the Head

Component	Size/Weight	Function
Spermaceti organ	1,900-2,700 kg	Sound production, buoyancy control
Junk	800-1,200 kg	Sound focusing
Melon	200-400 kg	Sound transmission
Brain	7-9 kg	Largest of any animal ever
Lower jaw	Contains 40-52 teeth	Grasping squid

Comparison to Other Toothed Whales

Length Rankings Among Odontocetes

Species	Average Length	Maximum Length	Compared to Sperm Whale
Sperm Whale	15-18 m	20.7 m	Baseline (largest)
Baird’s Beaked Whale	10-12 m	13 m	65% of length
Orca	6-8 m	9.8 m	45% of length
Pilot Whale	5-7 m	8.5 m	40% of length
Beluga	4-5 m	5.5 m	30% of length
Bottlenose Dolphin	2-4 m	4 m	20% of length

Comparison to Baleen Whales

Species	Average Length	Sperm Whale Comparison
Blue Whale	25-50-60 feet (15-18 meters)	Blue whale 70% longer
Fin Whale	20-24 m	Fin whale 35% longer
Humpback Whale	12-16 m	Similar length
Sperm Whale	15-18 m	Baseline
Gray Whale	13-15 m	Sperm whale slightly longer

Body Proportions

Length Distribution

Body Section	% of Total	Actual Length (16m male)
Head	25-35%	4.8-5.6 m (16-18 ft)
Trunk	45-50%	7.2-8 m (24-26 ft)
Tail stock	20-25%	3.2-4 m (10-13 ft)

Other Measurements

Feature	Males	Females	Notes
Flippers	1.5-2 m	1-1.5 m	Small relative to body
Fluke width	4-5 m	3-3.5 m	Triangular shape
Dorsal hump	Small series of bumps	Similar	Not a true fin
Blowhole	S-shaped, left side	Same	Unique among whales
Teeth	Up to 20 cm long	Smaller	Cone-shaped

Historical Records

Largest Sperm Whales Ever Documented

Record	Length	Weight	Year/Location
Longest confirmed	20.7 m (68 ft)	~57 tons	1950, Southern Ocean
Second longest	20.5 m (67 ft)	Est. 55 tons	Whaling era
Heaviest estimated	19 m (62 ft)	57+ tons	Historical
Modern large male	18+ m (59+ ft)	45+ tons	giant squid, fish, octopus sightings

Size Changes Over Time

Era	Average Male Length	Notes
Pre-whaling	16-18 m	Larger individuals common
Peak whaling (1960s)	14-16 m	Larger males targeted
Post-whaling (1990s)	14-15 m	Population recovering
Current (2020s)	15-17 m	Approaching historical sizes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are male sperm whales so much larger than females?

Male sperm whales grow larger because they compete physically for mating access to females. Larger males can better defend harems and dominate rivals. This extreme sexual dimorphism (males 40-50% longer, 3x heavier) is the most pronounced of any cetacean. Males also live in different waters than females, accessing more food at higher latitudes.

How does the sperm whale compare to Moby Dick’s description?

Herman Melville’s famous white whale was described as unusually large. While albino sperm whales are extremely rare, the size depicted was accurate for large males of that era. Historical accounts from the 19th century describe males reaching 25+ meters, though these may be exaggerated. The confirmed maximum of 20.7 meters still represents an enormous animal.

How long does it take sperm whales to reach full size?

Sperm whales grow slowly and live long lives. Females reach adult size by age 25-30, while males continue growing until age 35-50. Males don’t reach full physical and social maturity until their 30s or 40s. This extended growth period partly explains their large maximum size compared to faster-maturing species.

Why is the sperm whale’s head so large?

The massive head houses the spermaceti organ (which gives them their name), used for producing the powerful clicks needed for echolocation during deep dives to 2,000+ meters. The organ may also help regulate buoyancy. Males have proportionally larger heads, possibly for acoustic competition and display.

Are sperm whales longer than any dinosaur predators?

Yes, sperm whales are the largest toothed predators ever. The largest known theropod dinosaurs (T. rex, Spinosaurus) reached about 12-15 meters - smaller than large male sperm whales. No other toothed predator in Earth’s history has matched the sperm whale’s combination of length (20.7 m max) and mass (57 tons).

Conservation and Size Research

Understanding sperm whale size helps conservation efforts:

Application	How Size Data Helps
Population assessment	Track recovery of large males
Age estimation	Length correlates with age
Health monitoring	Body condition from photo-ID
Acoustic studies	Larger whales produce lower clicks
Climate impact	Food changes may affect growth

For more about sperm whale biology, see our articles on why sperm whales are called sperm whales and how long whales can hold their breath.

How long is a sperm whale?

Quick Answer

Key Facts

🧭 Quick Explore

are whales mammals?

what do whales eat?

how much does a blue whale weigh?

are dolphins whales?

how long can whales hold their breath?

how many blue whales are there?

what do whale sharks eat?

how many blue whales are left?