Estimates of total blood volume and total body weight of a sperm whale ( Physeter catodon )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Sleet, R. B., Sumich, J. L., Weber, L. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Catodon; Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z81-083; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z81-083

A stranding of sperm whales (Physeter catodon) on the central Oregon coast enabled measurement of the total plasma volume of one female whale. The total blood volume was calculated to be about 20% of the total body weight based on the measured total plasma volume and hematocrit and the estimate of total body weight.