(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - whale, sperm
OTHER COMMON NAMES - cachalot
ELEMENT CODE - 03/31/84
AOU CODE - 04/26/85
CATEGORY - Marine Mammals
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Mammalia, Theria
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Cetacea, Odontoceti
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Physeteridae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Physeter,
SPECIES AND SSP - catodon,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Physeter catodon
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus (1758)
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 1043
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
AKA Cachalot *1043*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Marine Mammal
Migrant
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 828, 1043 and 274
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - AO1
References on County Abundance - AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - AO1
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - G
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1033
LAND USE -
Water
Atlantic Ocean Coastal Waters
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1033
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OW0
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 1044
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Carnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1043, 1033 and 1035
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Animals Adult stage
General Molluscs Not Applicable
General Squid, Octopus Adult stage
General Scyphozoans Not Applicable
General Crustaceans Adult stage
General Malacostraca Adult stage
General Chondrichthyes Not Applicable
General Squaliformes Adult stage
General Rajiformes Adult stage
General Osteichthyes Not Applicable
General Gadiformes Not Applicable
General Perciformes Adult stage
General Sponges Not Applicable
General Malacostraca Adult stage
General See Comments; Food See Comments
Important Malacostraca Adult stage
Important See Comments; Food See Comments
Adult Animals Not Applicable
Adult Scyphozoans Not Applicable
Adult Squaliformes Adult stage
Adult Sponges Not Applicable
Adult Crustaceans Adult stage
Adult Rajiformes Adult stage
Adult Molluscs Not Applicable
Adult Malacostraca Adult stage
Adult Osteichthyes Not Applicable
Adult Squid, Octopus Adult stage
Adult Chondrichthyes Not Applicable
Adult Gadiformes Not Applicable
Adult Perciformes Adult stage
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 1043, 1033 and 1035
REFERENCES FOR IMPORTANT FOOD - 1043, 1033 and 1035
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 1043, 1033 and 1035
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
9999S=feeds mostly on squid *1043,1033,1035*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
LIM Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
LIM Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1043 and 1033
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1043 and 1033
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
00290S=mostly to deep waters *1043*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: lenght: males 35-60 feet, females
30-38 feet; maximum weight: males 50 tons, females 13 tons; color
bluish-black with small white areas on lower jaw; head is rectangular
and 1/4 to 1/3 of total body length; a hump and a series of ridges is
found on the back; lower jaw is small and short; pectoral flippers are
small; single blow hole is on the left front of head *1043*;
REPRODUCTION: breeding season is in the spring; gestation period is 16
months; 1 offspring per reproductive period; 1 reproductive period per 3
years; sexual maturity at 4.5 years for both males and females; breeding
behavior is polygymous *1044,1025*; BEHAVIOR: females, calves,
juveniles, and harem master bulls migrate north in spring; most feeding
takes place in very deep water; young are weaned at 12 months
*1043,1044*; ORIGIN: native *1043*; LIMITING FACTORS: deep water *1043*;
POPULATION PARAMETERS: adult mortality rate is about 6% per year
*1025*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 1043, 1044 and 1025
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Beneficial Public education - publicity
Beneficial Public education - law enforcement
Existing Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Existing Public education - publicity
Existing Public education - law enforcement
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1034 and 1048
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1034 and 1048
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species whale, sperm
Species Id M120012
Date 26 AUG 96
References
276 * Harvey, James T., David L. Stein. 1986. The State of
Scientific Information Relating to the Biology and Ecology of
the Gorda Ridge Study Area, Northeast Pacific Ocean: Nekton.
(0-86-7) (ed.). Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries Portland, Oregon:131.
828* Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1983. Republication of the
lists of endangered and threatened species. Federal Register
17.11-17.12:1-24.
1025* Allen, K. R. 1980. Conservation and Management of Whales.
Washington Sea Grant Univ. Washington Press, Seattle:220.
1033* Gunderson, H.L. 1976. Mammalogy. McGraw-Hill Inc. New
York, N.Y:117-120.
1034* Serv., National Marine Fisheries. 1972. Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972. (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407, 8h. stat. 1027
(1972)).
1035* Martin, R.M. 1977. Mammals of the Oceans. G.P. Putnam's
Sons New York, N.Y:44-82.
1043* Schmidly, D.J. 1981. Marine mammals of the southeastern
United States and the Gulf of Mexico. (41). U.S. Fish and Wildl.
Serv., Off. Biol. Serv. Washington, D.C:163.
1044* Slijper, E.J. 1979. Whales. Cornell Univ. Press Ithica,
N.Y:384-385.
1048* Serv., National Marine Fisheries. 1981. Marine mammal
protection act of 1972. Annual report.. U.S. Dep. Comm., Natl.
Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin. Washington, D.C:143.
References - 1