Taxonomy
Physeter macrocephalus | Sperm Whale
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
| HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING |
| Range | Favourable |
| Population | Unknown |
| Habitat | Favourable |
| Future Prospects | Unknown |
| Overall Assessment of Conservation Status | Unknown |
| Overall Trend in Conservation Status | N / A |
IUCN Conservation Status |
| Ireland | Not Evaluated* |
| Europe (1) | Vulnerable (A1d) |
| Global (2) | Vulnerable (A1d) |
* There is currently no Irish Red List for Marine Mammals.
Legal status
Protected by the following legal instruments:
- Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) Annex IV
- Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Appendix II*
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) Appendix I & II
- Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I
- International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1946 (as amended)
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004
- Wildlife Act (1976)
- Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000)
- Whale Fisheries Act 1937
Native status
During the 2005-2011 Irish Marine Mammal distribution survey most Sperm Whales were recorded between February and September.
Source: Wall D. et al 2013.
Sightings have been made in British and Irish waters to December, and there is some evidence that more males are spending winters at high latitudes. There will always be migration to breeding grounds at lower latititudes during the breeding season.
Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.
The 2008 IUCN Global Red List for this species lists Ireland as one of
the countries where it is native, however it probably better described
as a migrant in an Irish context.
Sources: Reilly, S.B. et al 2008.; de Klem, 1994
Species Biology
Identification
- Average length female: 11m. Max. length female: 17m.
- Average length male: 15m. Max. length male: 20m
- Average birth length calf: 4m.
- Average weight female: 22 tonne
- Average weight male: 40 tonne
- Head Shape: Profile is unmistakable; enormous head with a blunt snout with relatively small underslung jaw; head forms 1/3 of overall body length and considerably more than 1/3 of body mass.
- Dorsal Fin & tail Stock: No true dorsal fin but 2/3 way down the back flesh and fibre are raised into distinct dorsal hump resembling a low, fatty fin. Beyond this are a series of knuckles, usually 4 or 5.
- Flippers: Short and stubby.
- Tail flukes are broad and powerful; their surface area being the largest of all whales, providing rapid acceleration.
- Colouration: Normally steely dark grey with light brownish underlay. The skin around the lips is usually white and there are often white blotches on other parts of the head, at the navel, alongside the hump, or splashed in random streaks along the flank and tail.
- Additional Body Markings: Frequency of white patches increases with age. Skin on head is patterned with circular scars formed by suckers on tentacles of giant squid, some of which have measured 5 in. in diameter, making the tentacles over 2ft. in diameter.med by suckers on tentacles of giant squid, some of which have measured 5 in. in diameter, making the tentacles over 2ft. in diameter.
- Long, blunt head first to appear above surface, often at an angle, to expose blowhole. Head is highly asymmetrical and the single nostril is situated well to the left of the midline, producing a forward angled and left leaning blow, unlike that of any other whale. The blow shoots up 3-5 m. at a forward angle of 45 deg. First exhalation after deep dive is like a blast that is audible from up to 1km, with each subsequent breath lasting about 3 sec. on exhalation and 1 sec. for the next air intake.
- The Sperm Whale usually spends 10 minutes at the surface, breathing very deeply every 10-15 seconds before diving. After the final blow of a series at the surface, the whale draws its head under and a cloud of vapour persists as the long back bends down to expose the hump and the knuckles along the spine. The dive is almost vertical and the broad tail flukes are always thrown well up in the air.
Habitat
Apart from occasional sightings in shallower waters this is a species of deeper water, usually over 200m in depth and away from continental shelf. Often associated with continental shelf slopes, seamounts or canyons, but generally areas of high deep-water biomass.
Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.
Habitats;
- Open marine water (MW1)
Sources: Harris S.,Yalden D.W., 2008; Fossitt, J.A., 2001.
Reproduction
- Estimated life expectancy: 65-70 years.
- Sexual maturity females: 7-12 years.
- Sexual maturity males: 18-19 years.
- Mating Occurs (estimated North Atlantic popn.): February- June.
- Gestation: Approximately 16-17 months.
- Calving: June-September.
Sperm Whales produce a single calf but only at intervals of, on average, 5 years. Calves may not be weaned for a year and a half to nearly three and a half years, but may still suckle to adolescence.
Adult and adolescent males are usually geographically segregated from females and young. In the North Atlantic males spend time outside of the breeding seasoon at higher latitudes, females and young staying in tropical and sub-tropical waters year round. Younger adult and most adolescent males may not migrate to breeding areas until older.
Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.
Threats faced
| THREAT | ARTICLE 17 THREAT CODE | RANKING |
| Seismic exploration, explosions | H06.05 | Medium |
| Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources* | F02 | Low |
| Death or injury by collision | G05.11 | Low |
| Noise nuisance, noise pollution | H06.01 | Low |
| Changes in abiotic conditions | M01 | Low |
*This would include the threat to this species of a reduction in prey availability as well as the threat of becoming by-catch / accidental catch and also entanglement in fishing gear.
These threats accord well with threats outlined in the 2007 European Regional IUCN Red List assessment for the species which also identified the following threats;
- Marine water pollution (this would include chemical and litter pollution)
Source: IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group 2007.
Conservation actions
In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no Conservation Measures in place or in the process of being implemented during the period were listed for this species.
Source: NPWS 2013.
Suggested Conservation Actions in the 2007 European Regional IUCN Red List assessment included;
- Development and implementation of Management Plans for populations of the species.
In a 2009 Cetacean Action Plan a total of 41 Actions were identified as part of the plan. The plan and the 2013 review of the plan are available from the NPWS website.
Source: DEHLG 2009.
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Worldwide in deep waters.
Source: Harris S., Yalden D.W. 2008.
Accuracy of world distribution shown in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) map below will be constrained by, amongst other factors, data held but not shared by countries and organizations not participating in the GBIF.
Irish distribution
Sperm Whales are occasionally observed in Irish waters in very deep water off the continental shelf. Their near absence from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) sightings database, reflects their offshore distribution.
Source: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
During the 2005-2011 Irish Marine Mammal distribution survey most Sperm Whales were recorded off the west and north west coasts, mainly in waters over 1,000m in depth and beyond the limit of the continental shelf.
Source: Wall D. et al 2013.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
The National Biodiversity Data Centre is trying to
improve our knowledge on the distribution of the Sperm Whale in
Ireland. Should you observe this species, please submit
sightings to add to the database. Detailed observations will assist us
gaining a better insight into where the species
is most abundant in Ireland and we might also be able to detect
regional variations. Please submit any sightings and photographs at:
http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/index.php
All
records submitted online can be viewed on Google Maps – once checked
and validated these will be added to the database and made available for
conservation and research.
Further information
For further information contact Dr. Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie
References
Publications
DEHLG 2009 Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in Irish waters.
de Klem, Cyrille, 1994. ‘The Problem of Migratory Species in International Law’, in Helge Ole Bergesen and Georg Parmann (eds.), Green Globe Yearbook ofInternational Co-operation on Environment and Development 1994(Oxford: Oxford University Press), 67–77.
Fossitt, J.A. (2001) A Guide to Habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council
Harris S., Yalden D.W. (2008). Mammals of the British Isles :Handbook, 4th Edition. The Mammal Society.
Species account by IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group; regional assessment by European Mammal Assessment team 2007. Physeter macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 October 2014.
NPWS (2013) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Species Assessments Volume 3. Version 1.0. Unpublished Report, National Parks & Wildlife Services. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland.
NPWS (2013a) Delivery Schedule for Actions listed in the Conservation Plan for Cetaceans in Irish waters – June 2013
Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. & Pitman, R.L. 2008. Physeter macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 October 2014.
Wall, D., Murray, C., O’Brien, J., Kavanagh, L., Wilson, C., Ryan, C., Glanville, B., Williams, D., Enlander, I., O’Connor, I., McGrath, D., Whooley, P. & Berrow, S. (2013). Atlas of the Distribution and Relative Abundance of Marine Mammals in Irish Offshore Waters: 2005 – 2011. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Kilrush, Co. Clare.