Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Sighting evidence at Soufriere Bay Dominica, Dominica
Photo: Gabriel Barathieu · CC BY-SA
The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator on earth and dives to 2000 m or beyond to hunt giant squid in total darkness. The resident population around Dominica is one of the most studied in the world: a multi-decade research project has identified individual whales by their fluke patterns. Encounters occur at the surface between dives when the animals rest, socialize, and nurse calves. Dominica is the only country in the world where in-water encounters with sperm whales are legally permitted under a strict permit system.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Sperm whale is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.