Taxon name
Physeter macrocephalus
Linnaeus, 1758
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Physeter macrocephalus
Linnaeus, 1758
Common name(s)
Sperm Whale, Spermacet Whale, Cachelot, Pot Whale, Gandar Timi
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Species authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
In the original description Physeter macrocephalus and Physeter catodon, both names are used by Linnaeus (1758) on the same page and no priority is given. However, P. macrocephalus is seen to use more frequently than P. catodon.
Physeter catodon Linnaeus, 1758
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Bangladesh
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Data Deficient
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
There is no record of Sperm Whale occurrence in Bangladesh except one carcass that was found in 22 November, 2007 at the Selarchar of Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern coast of Bangladesh (The Daily Purbanchal, 28 November 2007 and The Daily Star, 30 November 2007) that was brought ashore by the tidal surge Sidr that badly impacted Bangladesh western coast. No more information is available to assess this species. Thus it is categorized as Data Deficient.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Md. Zahangir Alom
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32pp; IUCN (2012) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
http://iucnredlistbd.org/
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
It is generally found in continental slope or deeper water, but can be found in almost all marine waters from the equator to high latitudes (Taylor et al. 2008). Bangladesh: Not known.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes, in the publication/on website
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
It inhabits in deep offshore waters. It prefers deep waters with high sea floor relief. Spends 72% time in foraging dive cycles. Dive duration is 45 minutes and forage up to 1km depth (Rice 1989).
History
Not assessed (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Publication
IUCN Bangladesh. 2015. Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+232
