• Question: why is a sperm whale called a sperm whale

    Asked by 223tntd28 to Bernard on 10 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Bernard Ennis

      Bernard Ennis answered on 10 Nov 2015:

      I have absolutely no idea. Wikipedia says this, and I see no reason not to believe it:
      “The name sperm whale is a clip of spermaceti whale. Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales’ semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale’s head.”
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_whale

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