WATCH: video of sperm whale breaching from sea near Nice
There have been multiple sightings in the area just this week
Sperm whales are not normally a common sight in the Mediterranean
Grégory Leclerc / X (Twitter)
A sperm whale was filmed putting on a show when it breached from the sea near Nice in the second sighting of the animal in five days.
The whale was filmed by Gabriel Dulière from a boat near Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Alpes-Maritimes) on October 12.
Watch here:
In the video, the cetacean can be seen sticking out its caudal fin and slamming it on the surface of the water twice.
Second sperm whale sighting in Nice
A sperm whale, possibly the same, was spotted nearby just a few days earlier.
It was observed in front of the Promenade des Anglais, off the Negresco, and then in front of the port of Nice on October 8.
Sperm whales in the Mediterranean
Sightings of sperm whales in the Mediterranean are not common, however the sea is home to a small group that numbers fewer than 200 individuals.
Sperm whales are easily recognized by their dark grey colour, dorsal hump and prominent rounded foreheads.
These giant mammals can grow up to 18m in length and up to 45 tonnes in weight. They are considered a threatened species.
Sperm whales are known to dive down to 3,280 feet in search of squid – they must hold their breath for up to 90 minutes on such dives.
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