Distribution and behaviour of male sperm whales on the Scotian Shelf, Canada

Studies of mature male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were carried out on the Scotian Shelf during the summers of 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1990. Sperm whales were found principally along the edge of the Shelf, although there were some encounters in water less than 100 m deep. Within the Gully, a prominent submarine canyon, sperm whales showed a consistent pattern of distribution between years, distinct from that of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus). Some male sperm whales were individually identified in the Gully after periods of 2–47 days, and in one case, after 2 years. The male sperm whales showed little evidence of social organization and rarely performed aerial behaviour. However, their diving behaviour was similar to that observed from female sperm whales in the tropics. On one occasion a group of presumed female and immature sperm whales entered the Gully, attracting the attention of resident mature males.