Sperm whale

buff · Dec 31, 2002

I just saw a program on T.V that mentioned "Sperm whales exhale before diving to prevent breaking bones at great depth and incredible pressure"

I don't think this is true.

Is it??

Thanks
Mike

Rick Murchison · Jan 1, 2003

buff once bubbled...
I just saw a program on T.V that mentioned "Sperm whales exhale before diving to prevent breaking bones at great depth and incredible pressure"

I don't think this is true.

Is it??

Thanks
Mike

Well, it sure doesn't make any sense, does it? Any air spaces would collapse less with more air in 'em, thus lessening and not worsening the affects of compression on 'em.
Nope, prima facie it's false.
Rick

yknot · Jan 1, 2003

I do recall reading somewhere that sperm whales can dive to something like 1500ft.

ianr33 · Jan 1, 2003

Seems that they can go even deeper than that,they have been tracked at depths greater than a MILE !
http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/database/Biology/9706/b00735d.html

and thats on air as well

Sperm whale

Please register or login

buff

Contributor

Rick Murchison

Trusty Shellback

yknot

Guest

ianr33

Contributor

Similar threads