sperm-whale-tooth

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is a marine mammal, the only modern representative of the sperm whale family related to dwarf sperm whales. The largest of toothed whales. Adult males reach 20 m of length and mass 50 tons, and females – 15 m of length and mass 20 tons.

The sperm whale mouth is located in a notch from below the head. The long and narrow lower jaw is shrunk with large teeth, which are usually 20-26 pairs, and each tooth with a closed mouth enters a separate depression in the upper jaw. Teeth are often smaller, even 8 pairs. Sperm whale teeth are not differentiated; they are all of the same conical shape, weigh about 1 kilogram each and do not have enamel. On the upper jaw of the teeth there are only 1-3 pairs, and often not at all, or they are not shown from the gums. Females always have fewer teeth than males.