Reproduction
--- sperm whale
breeding is not very dependent on the seasons
--- the gestation period is over 16 months and the calf is born tail first near
the surface of the
water
--- the newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its
first breath; it
helped by its mother
--- within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim
--- the newborn calf is about 13 feet long and weighs about 1 ton
--- twins are extremely rare (about 1% of births); there is almost always one calf
---the interval between births is about 3-4 years
--- a female reaches maturity at 9-10 years (males reach maturity at 18-19 years) and
lives to be
about 40 years old
--- on average, a female will give birth to about 7-10 calves
--- calves drink 45 pounds (20 kg) of milk each day.