Physeter

Physeter Temporal range: Burdigalian – Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Physeter macrocephalus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Whippomorpha
Infraorder:	Cetacea
Family:	Physeteridae
Genus:	Physeter Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758
Species
Physeter macrocephalus †Physeter antiquus

Physeter is a genus of giant toothed whales, that include now a only living species: Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The genus include two possible extinct species, and with a one probably junior synonym: Physeter antiquus and P. vetus. P. vetus is now considered a synonym of P. antiquus, the P. antiquus is the only extinct species of the genus.

Related pages

• Sperm whale

References

1. ↑ "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
2. ↑ "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
3. 1 2 "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
4. ↑ Watwood, Stephanie L.; Miller, Patrick J. O.; Johnson, Mark; Madsen, Peter T.; Tyack, Peter L. (2006). "Deep-diving foraging behaviour of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)". Journal of Animal Ecology. 75 (3): 814–825. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01101.x. ISSN 1365-2656.

Notes

• The fossil of Sperm whales is very rare.
• The synonym of Physeter include: Catodon, Orthodon, Megistosaurus and others names.
• See also PBDB from the synonyms.

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