Illustration of sperm whale
: a very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus synonym P. catodon) that has large conical teeth in the lower jaw, a single blowhole, and a massive squarish head with a closed cavity containing a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil, and that may reach a length in the male of nearly 60 feet (18.3 meters)
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Colossal defends its science amid critics A surprising lesson from Antarctica: Life flourishes even under 500 feet of ice South Carolina man pleads guilty to illegally selling sperm whale teeth and bones
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY.
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Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
These intriguing creatures were first discovered in 1925 when two of their appendages were found in the stomach of a sperm whale.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
The biggest teeth in the whale world are found in sperm whales, which can be 4 to 8 inches long.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2025
In contrast, just 27 sperm whale sightings have been recorded in the past 35 years, averaging less than one per year.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
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Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
These intriguing creatures were first discovered in 1925 when two of their appendages were found in the stomach of a sperm whale.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
The biggest teeth in the whale world are found in sperm whales, which can be 4 to 8 inches long.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2025
In contrast, just 27 sperm whale sightings have been recorded in the past 35 years, averaging less than one per year.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sperm whale
Cite this Entry
“Sperm whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sperm%20whale. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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