Sperm Whale (Physeter Macrocephalus)

Physeter macrocephalus, Búrhvalur, Pottwal, Cachalot, Kaskelot, Spermhval

Sperm Whales are champion “free-divers”. They are thought to be able to hold their breath for over two hours, although 45 minutes is the average dive time and getting to depths of up to 3000m. The Sperm Whale is the largest of the toothed whales and is very easily identified at sea because they have an angled bushy blow that is distinctive from a long distance.This specie has been drastically affected by commercial hunting, mainly in Japan, and that upset the male – to – female ratio and led to a serious decline in the Sperm Whale ‘s birth rate. Today they are not hunted commercially.

Rarely seen in Eyjafjörður/Akureyri but fishermans reports shows that they can be seen quite often in the waters not that far north from the fjord. Last sighting in Eyjafjordur - April 2019.