what is whale sperm

Sperm whale is a species of whale that is the largest toothed predator and the largest of the toothed whales. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale. The name "sperm whale" is a clipping of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whales head. Spermaceti was used in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Sperm whales were a primary target of the commercial whaling industry from 1800 to 1987, which nearly decimated all sperm whale populations. The large head of the sperm whale has an oil-filled organ called the spermaceti organ. It is for this oil that the sperm whale was so heavily hunted, as it was useful as machine and lamp oil and for making candles, make-up, and perfume. The spermaceti is an oil sac that helps the whales focus sound. Sperm whales are mostly dark grey, though some whales have white patches on the belly. They are the only living cetacean that has a single blowhole asymmetrically situated on the left side of the crown of the head.