Diet Sperm whale

a piece of sperm whale skin giant squid sucker scars

sperm whales dive between 300 800 metres (980 2,620 ft), , 1 2 kilometres (3,300 6,600 ft), in search of food. such dives can last more hour. feed on several species, notably giant squid, colossal squid, octopuses, , fish demersal rays, diet medium-sized squid. prey may taken accidentally while eating other items. of known deep sea squid has been learned specimens in captured sperm whale stomachs, although more recent studies analysed feces. 1 study, carried out around galápagos, found squid genera histioteuthis (62%), ancistrocheirus (16%), , octopoteuthis (7%) weighing between 12 , 650 grams (0.026 , 1.433 lb) commonly taken. battles between sperm whales , giant squid or colossal squid have never been observed humans; however, white scars believed caused large squid. 1 study published in 2010 collected evidence suggests female sperm whales may collaborate when hunting humboldt squid. tagging studies have shown sperm whales hunt upside down @ bottom of deep dives. suggested whales can see squid silhouetted above them against dim surface light.

an older study, examining whales captured new zealand whaling fleet in cook strait region, found 1.69:1 ratio of squid fish weight. sperm whales take sablefish , toothfish long lines. long-line fishing operations in gulf of alaska complain sperm whales take advantage of fishing operations eat desirable species straight off line, sparing whales need hunt. however, amount of fish taken little compared sperm whale needs per day. video footage has been captured of large male sperm whale bouncing long line, gain fish. sperm whales believed prey on megamouth shark, rare , large deep-sea species discovered in 1970s. in 1 case, 3 sperm whales observed attacking or playing megamouth.

ambergris

the sharp beak of consumed squid lodged in whale s intestine may lead production of ambergris, analogous production of pearls. irritation of intestines caused squid beaks stimulates secretion of lubricant-like substance. sperm whales prodigious feeders , eat around 3% of body weight per day. total annual consumption of prey sperm whales worldwide estimated 91 million tonnes (100 million short tons). in comparison, human consumption of seafood estimated 115 million tonnes (127 million short tons).

sperm whales hunt through echolocation. clicks among powerful sounds in animal kingdom (see above). has been hypothesised can stun prey clicks. experimental studies attempting duplicate effect have been unable replicate supposed injuries, casting doubt on idea.

it has been stated sperm whales, other large cetaceans, fertilise surface of ocean consuming nutrients in depths , transporting nutrients oceans surface when defecate, effect known whale pump. fertilises phytoplankton , other plants on surface of ocean , contributes ocean productivity , drawdown of atmospheric carbon.