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sperm whale jaw

This is the last thing you would see if you were swallowed by a sperm whale feet first. I am sure this is the last thing many giant squids (Architeuthis) see with their dinner plate sized eyes.

The sperm whale is one of the only toothed whales, only having teeth on it’s lower jaw. The sperm whale teeth were often scrimshawed, or decorated with very intricate designs. Often whalers were out to sea for years at a time, so the scrimshaw art offered a way for sailors to pass the time. This picture was taken at the Nantucket Whaling Museum.

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Comments: sperm whale jaw

1. Just reading Mr. Melville’s description of the head and jaw of the sperm whale and this is a great aid to my imagined picture. Thanks for the nice photo. What an awesome sight that must be.

   Posted by Mawg from Cincinnati Ohio on 03/20 at 02:39 PM

2. This is a little bit frightening to me. I could not imagine being swallowed by a whale. That would probably be an even worse death than being killed by a shark.

   Posted by Kristie Morse from Bunker Hill, West Virginia on 05/30 at 03:59 PM

3. Ditto number one.  Melville must be in the air, since I just across the river from Cincy.  Melville says that the whalers carve the teeth to be used for handles (knife, umbrella ...)  Hope they were able to sell them since the regular seamen weren’t paid well.  Off to find Right Whales.

   Posted by Becky from Florence, Kentucky on 03/31 at 08:13 PM