199440Edited by Drew.110012735layer_information_pageund1449064505146175574900146175574921<p>The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales, males growing to lengths of 18 m and females to 13 m. Its long, dark brown or grey back has no fin but there is a triangular, dorsal hump two-thirds along the body, followed by a spinal ridge and corrugations on the skin that give animals a shrivelled appearance.</p> <p>It has a very large, square head (up to one-third of the total length in the male) and an underslung lower jaw. The distinctive bushy blow is directed forwards and to the left, 1.5-5 m high. When diving deeply, the broad, triangular and deeply notched tail flukes are thrown up into the air.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> full_html<p>The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales, males growing to lengths of 18 m and females to 13 m. Its long, dark brown or grey back has no fin but there is a triangular, dorsal hump two-thirds along the body, followed by a spinal ridge and corrugations on the skin that give animals a shrivelled appearance.</p> <p>It has a very large, square head (up to one-third of the total length in the male) and an underslung lower jaw. The distinctive bushy blow is directed forwards and to the left, 1.5-5 m high. When diving deeply, the broad, triangular and deeply notched tail flukes are thrown up into the air.</p> <p> </p> 36818<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> full_html<p>Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.</p> <p>Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.</p> 5190142865168518251835212875917sioc:Itemfoaf:Documentdc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/sperm-whale074531994412735publishedpublished21146175574911146175574974531994412735publishedpublished21146175574911146175574974531994412735publishedpublished211461755749111461755749