16/04/2018 – New sighting of an sperm whale in the coast of Garraf
On April 15, during a field trip of the entity to continue the work of our Photo-Identification project, we were able to enjoy the sighting of a common sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ), species that we had only been able to see two times before; this species is more frequent in the Balearic area, the Ligurian Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar.
The sighting took place about 12 miles from the coast, in an area about 600 meters deep, and the sperm whale, which is the second largest cetacean in the Mediterranean, was resting and showed all its beauty. A drone could record images of the whale, who was also sending echolocation sounds that we were be able to record with our hydrophone.
The sperm whale is the largest odontocete (toothed cetacean), and can dive up to 90 minutes long and go down to depths of up to 1,500 meters. Its sonar is very powerful, so much so that they also use it to stun their prey. But they also create sounds to detect food and even to communicate with each other. Studies have shown that they have different “dialects” and that these pass from one generation to another, forming part of what we call “particular culture”.
To learn more about this fascinating animal you can visit the page:
http://www.associaciocetacea.org/en/conservation/mediterranean-species/cetaceans/sperm-whale/
Sperm whale in the coast of Garraf
Aereal images of the sperm whale sighting.
