Sperm whale - sperm whale

Japanese: マッコウクジラ(抹香鯨) - マッコウクジラ（英語表記）sperm whale

A mammal of the sperm whale family (illustration) in the suborder Odontoceti. It is the largest species of toothed whale, living in the open ocean from tropical to polar regions. When growth stops, the average body length is 11 m for females and 16 m for males, but in rare cases, individuals can exceed 13 to 18 m. The entire body is black-brown, with irregular spiral patterns on the abdomen. In older individuals, the color gradually becomes lighter from the head onwards. The head is log-shaped, taking up 1/4 to 1/3 of the body length. There is a single S-shaped nostril located on the left side of the front end of the head. The nasal passage splits into left and right just below this.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ハクジラ亜目マッコウクジラ科の哺乳類（イラスト）。熱帯～寒帯の外洋に生息するハクジラ(歯鯨)類の最大種。成長停止時の平均体長は雌で11m，雄で16mであるが，まれにそれぞれ13～18mを超える個体もある。全身黒褐色で，腹部に不規則な渦巻紋がある。高齢個体では，頭部からしだいに色が淡くなる。頭部は丸太状で，体長の1/4～1/3を占める。鼻孔は1個でS字状をなし，頭部前端の左側に位置する。鼻道はこの直下で左右に分かれる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Terminally ill adopted child - Matsugo Yohshi

>>: Matcha - incense