Physeteridae - sperm whales
 There are three species of toothed whales in this family, the
sperm whale, the pygmy sperm whale, and the dwarf sperm whale. Sperm whales get their name from the
spermaceti organ
in their heads. The spermaceti organ produces an oil that used to be valuable to whale hunters. The oil was used to make candles. Scientists don't really know how sperm whales use the spermaceti organ. Sperm whales are found in all of the world's oceans, except for the Arctic. They eat fish and squid. The sperm whale is 50-60 feet long and weighs up to 50 tons! It has a huge, square head that can be up to 20 feet long! It has a single blow hole and small flippers. It doesn't have a dorsal fin, but it has a hump on its back. The pygmy sperm whale is 10-14 feet long and weighs up to 900 pounds. It has a small dorsal fin; small, rounded flippers; and a square head. It is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. It eats fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans. The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest whale. it is around nine feet in length and weighs around 500 pounds. It look like the pygmy sperm whale, but it is smaller and has a larger dorsal fin. It is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. It eats fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans.
 Endangered in N.H.
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 Threatened in N.H.
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 Introduced
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 Endangered in U.S.
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 Threatened in U.S.
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| New Hampshire Species |
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Other North American Species |
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Dwarf Sperm Whale
Pygmy Sperm Whale
Sperm Whale
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