Among Odontoceti, the sperm whale is the undisputed giant, reaching up to 57,000 kg — more than 16 times the weight of a killer whale. The size diversity within this group is enormous: the dwarf sperm whale and the melon-headed whale weigh as little as 275 kg at maximum. This variation in body mass reflects adaptations to different ecological niches, diving depths, and hunting strategies.
Chart Data Table (corrected against bar order)
Species
Maximum weight (kg)
False killer whale
1,400
Pilot whale
3,500
Pygmy sperm whale
400
Dwarf sperm whale
275
Sperm whale
57,000
Killer whale
5,600
Blainville’s beaked whale
1,000
Cuvier’s beaked whale
3,000
Pygmy killer whale
225
Gervais’s beaked whale
2,000
Northern bottlenose whale
7,500
Sowerby’s beaked whale
1,300
Melon-headed whale
275
References (with hyperlinked sources)
Ferreira, I. M., Kasuya, T., Marsh, H. & Best, P. B. (2014). False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) from Japan and South Africa. Mar. Mammal Sci., 30, 64–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12021
Plön, S. & Baird, R. W. (2022). Dwarf Sperm Whale, Kogia sima. In Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Springer International Publishing. (no public DOI/URL found)
Maio, N. et al. (2022). Life History Traits of Sperm Whales Physeter macrocephalus Stranded along Italian Coasts. Animals, 13(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010079
Olesiuk, P. F., Ellis, G. M., Ford, J. K. B. (2005). Life history and population dynamics of northern resident killer whales. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2005/045. (no DOI — government research document)
Baird, R. W. et al. (2006). Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s and Blainville’s beaked whales in Hawai’i. Can. J. Zool., 84, 1120–1128. https://doi.org/10.1139/z06-095
Shearer, J. M. et al. (2019). Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s beaked whales off Cape Hatteras. R. Soc. Open Sci., 6, 181728. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181728
Pulis, E. et al. (2018). Movements and dive patterns of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata). Aquatic Mammals, 44(5), 555–567. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.44.5.2018.555
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017). Management Plan for the Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens) in Canada. Ottawa. (no DOI — government management plan)