British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Sperm Whale - definition

Translation:

Sperm Whales are massive and awe inspiring. The males can be over 20m long and have a huge, gaping mouth and a brain that weighs 8kg! Sperm Whales are the largest of the toothed whales and have a distinctive blow hole. They travel vast distances out in the deep ocean, moving from the poles to the equator. Sperm Whales have some amazing adaptations that allow them to dive to incredible depths of over 2,000m. They spend hours cruising the surface breathing in oxygen in preparation for diving and can remain underwater for up to 90 minutes by directing blood flow to their vital organs (the brain and the heart) and reducing blood flow to other parts of the body. They also slow down their heart rate so that they use oxygen as efficiently as possible. Sperm Whales have a special organ inside their forehead that contains a waxy substance that changes from liquid to solid, this is used to help adjust their buoyancy, making it easier to dive and return to the surface. They communicate with one another using echolocation. Sperm Whales travel in pods with calves swimming close to and suckling their mothers.

Sperm Whale - definition in International Sign Language