Antique Curved Sperm Whale Tooth. Likely from a young adult, as the teeth of older whales show significant striations as well as wear and are smaller, and those of juveniles and infants are sharper and more curved. 

Size: 1 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. 

Toothed whales, or odontocetes, comprise 73 surviving species of cetaceans (including dolphins, porpoises, and sperm whales) that diverged from baleen whales approximately 34 million years ago. Varying drastically in size from under five feet to over sixty feet, these streamlined marine mammals possess specialized adaptations like blubber, high-speed swimming capabilities, and exceptional underwater hearing. Although historically hunted for resources like spermaceti and teeth, they are now protected by international law, though some species remain held in captivity for public entertainment. Highly intelligent and capable of complex emotions, toothed whales have deeply influenced human culture through literature, folklore, and modern tourism activities like whale-watching.

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