Fascinating Fact Friday: Sperm Whales

Did you know that sperm whales can dive up to 10,000 feet to catch its prey? It is a mammal and must surface to breathe air, but it can hold its breath for up to two hours. During a deep dive, its lungs collapse to only one one-hundredth of their normal volume.

The sperm whale dives this deep to capture giant squid which live near the bottom of the ocean. Giant squid can be up to 60 feet long. The sperm whale uses sonar or sounds to find the squid. Sperm whales will also eat fish, rays and other squid.

Do you want to know more about the ocean? Steve Jenkins has written a wonderful book about the ocean entitled Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. This book is where I learned about the sperm whale and giant squid as well as many other interesting creatures.

I highly recommend this book as well as any other book by Steve Jenkins.