The blue whale vs sperm whale are two of the world’s biggest whales. When compared to one another, however, the blue whale is nearly twice as big as the sperm whale and three times heavier.
Read on to learn more about the differences between blue whale vs sperm whale.
Blue Whale vs Sperm Whale: Main Differences
The blue whale and the sperm whale are two different types of sea animals. Here are the top five major distinctions between them.
Appearance
Sperm whales have a blocky head, with an S-shaped blow hole, whereas the blue whale is long and slender and has a considerably larger mouth.
Habitat
Sperm whales can be found in all seas throughout the world, whereas the blue whale may be found in all oceans except for those of the Arctic.
Diet
Sperm whales are primarily squid/octopus eaters, whereas rays and sharks are their main sources of food. Krill are eaten by blue whales, who are water filter feeders.
Size
Sperm whales are often mistaken for blue whales. They may reach a length of 67 feet, which is about 20 feet shorter than the blue whale.
Life Span
Sperm whales live for around 70 years, whilst blue whales can survive up to 90.
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale is the world’s third deepest diving mammal and has the greatest brain of any animal. The term “spermaceti” comes from the oil, which was a target of whalers.
Quick Facts
- Surprisingly, the sperm whale has the world’s largest brain among living or extinct creatures. It weighs around 17 pounds (7.8 kg).
- The IUCN presently classifies whales as “vulnerable.”
- Male sperm whales reach puberty at around 18 years of age, and female sperm whales mature sexually at about 9 years old.
- The sperm whale is one of the world’s largest whales.
Appearance
One of the largest whale species in the world is the sperm whale. It can reach a length of around 67 feet (about 20 feet shorter than the blue whale) and may live to 70 years old or more.
The sperm whale has a distinct appearance that makes it difficult to mistake with other whales. The head of the sperm whale is enormous and blocky, taking up much of the animal’s overall length.
The blowhole is s-shaped and located near the head’s front. It’d be tough to confuse a blue whale with a sperm whale after learning about both of them.
Habitat
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sperm whales can be found all throughout the world’s deep seas, from the equator to the ice edge of both the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets.
The whale population has yet to fully recover from commercial hunting in the 19th and 20th centuries, when their numbers were drastically reduced. Sperm whales are typically found at sea long distances from land. They prefer to prey in deeper waters.
Diet
Sperm whales may dive up to 2,620 feet (800 meters) in search of food. These dives might last up to an hour. Squid, octopuses, and rays are among the species they consume.
The majority of what scientists know about deep-sea creatures like the deep-sea squid is based on findings in sperm whale stomachs. Some evidence suggests that their teeth are utilized as weapons when two males battle one another.
Blue Whale
The blue whale is the world’s largest animal, weighing up to 170 tons and measuring more than 100 feet long. There have been a total of 88 whales longer than 98 feet and one reaching 108 feet in length since the IWC began keeping records.
The biggest natural danger the blue whale faces is the orca, which has been documented working in bunches to attack blue whales. The calves are far more vulnerable to orcas than adult individuals. With a weight of 173 tonnes, the largest confirmed measurement of a blue whale was 29.9 meters or 98 feet long.
Blue whales have a well-known means of communication. They produce a succession of pulses and groans that may be heard up to 1,000 miles away, according to National Geographic. These noises might help distinguish blue whale pods.
Quick Facts
- The blue whale is the planet’s largest animal.
- They communicate with each other through vocalizations.
- The maximum lifespan of a blue whale is around 90 years.
- When the birth of a blue whale calf occurs, it weighs three tons and is 25 feet long.
- The whale community’s most solid bond is between the mother and her calf.
Appearance
These whales come in a variety of hues, ranging from blue to grey. They have long, slim bodies that appear bluish when submerged. Their bodies are similarly marked, with unique mottling patterns on their backs and a brighter hue around the dorsal fin.
Habitat
The largest animal on earth, the blue whale is also one of its most solitary. The majority of them live alone or in pairs and journey to the Equator during the winter months. This allows them to feed on food throughout the winter, which may help reduce parasitism and disease.
In the North Atlantic Ocean, blue whales can be found from the tropics to the Greenland Sea, as well as off the eastern United States and Canada’s coast. Blue whales inhabiting north Pacific coasts live around the western side of the United States.
They winter in Central America. There are also whale species in the Indian Ocean, with sightings reported in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and other minor seas (NOAA).
Diet
A tiny creature is consumed by the world’s largest animal, the blue whale. Blue whales consume krill, although they have been observed eating crabs and fish. They feed filter-feed: that is, they swim towards huge concentrations of krill with their mouths open (as opposed to sperm whales, who skim).
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, blue whales use their tongue to expunge water from their mouths before swallowing krill.
