Ecology of Physeter macrocephalus
 
Main Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Remarks Deep divers. Feeds on squids, octopuses (Ref. 1394), sharks, demersal rays, and bony fishes (Ref. 122680). Forms strong social bonds (Ref. 122680). Feeding strategy involves synchronized, individual hunting for non-schooling prey such as deep-sea squids (Ref. 130961).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Physeter macrocephalus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.50 0.37 Troph of juv./adults.
From individual food items 4.50 0.53 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Evans, K. and M.A. Hindell, 2004
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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