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--> FAMILY Physeteridae
--> GENUS Physeter
SPECIES Physeter catodon
Author: | Linnaeus, 1758. | Citation: | Syst. Nat., 10th ed., 1: 76. | Common Name: | Sperm Whale | Type Locality: | "Habitat in Oceano Septentrionali.", restricted to Netherlands, Middenpiat by Husson and Holthuis (1974). | Distribution: | Worldwide: antarctic and cold-temperate waters (northern hemisphere) to tropical waters. | Status: | CITES – Appendix I; U.S. ESA – Endangered; IUCN – Vulnerable as P. macrocephalus. | Comments: | Neotype designated by Husson and Holthuis (1974:212). Linnaeus used both catodon and macrocephalus in the 10th edition. P. catodon has line priority and, according to Linnaeus' diagnoses, is the only name applicable. See Hershkovitz (1966a:121), Schevill (1986, 1987b), Holthuis (1987), and Rice (1989, who also reviewed the species). |
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| Offspring: | Synonyms:
australasianus Desmoulins, 1822 australis Gray, 1846 macrocephalus Linnnaeus, 1758
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