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Transparent sperm whale skin | Sri Lanka | Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whale skin is thin and almost transparent, as is apparent from the large piece of skin I'm holding in my hand. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) shed and slough off skin continuously, perhaps as a mechanism for maintaining healthy skin and shedding parasites. This large piece of skin came off an adult female sperm whale, part of a family group of nine individuals.

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Filename: sperm-whale-skin-physeter-macrocephalus-sri-lanka-201303-1038.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication in any form without prior written consent.
Image Size: 5760x3840 / 63.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Whale Sperm Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetacea Odontoceti Physeteridae Physeter macrocephalus Cetartiodactyla Cachalot Marine Mammal Odontocete Physeter catadon Toothed Whale Skin CITES Appendix 1 Vulnerable: IUCN Red List Indian Ocean Sri Lanka
Contained in galleries: Sperm Whales

Sperm whale skin is thin and almost transparent, as is apparent from the large piece of skin I'm holding in my hand. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) shed and slough off skin continuously, perhaps as a mechanism for maintaining healthy skin and shedding parasites. This large piece of skin came off an adult female sperm whale, part of a family group of nine individuals.