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the web of life in southern Africa

Physeter catodon (Sperm whale)

cachalot [English] [French]; potvis [Afrikaans]; Pottwal [German]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia >  Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals) > Placentalia (placental mammals) > Laurasiatheria > Ferungulata > Cetartiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans) > Whippomorpha > Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) > Family: Physeteridae

Physeter catodon (Sperm whale) Physeter catodon (Sperm whale)

Sperm whales, pelagic trip off Cape Town, South Africa. [photos Trevor Hardaker ©]

Physeter catodon (Sperm whale)

Sperm whale. [Illustration Noel Ashton ©]