Behold! The Sperm Whale Railgun

[premiumsockets]

Last year I discovered my love of sperm whales. I love the way they're shaped like submarines, their capability for emotion and complex social dynamics, their dumb skinny mouths with teeth only on the bottom, the way they glide through the ocean, their SIZE, and of course their Weapons-Grade Phonic Projectiles (aka clicks!). I love playfully referring to their clicks as the "Sperm Whale Railgun" because of the way they use them to stun prey. So, I was recently inspired to draw a sketch of a sperm whale absolutely OBLITERATING a giant squid with its "railgun." Enjoy!

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I have never encountered Sperm Whales. Grey, Humpback, and Blue, yes. I was on an Oceanic Society cruise to the Farallons from San Francisco on a 32 foot boat. The Blue Whales that came alongside us were at least 3 times that length. Magnificent.

 

[premiumsockets]

I am unbelievably jealous. I need to invest more time and energy to seeing more whales irl. Ideally I'd want to swim with them but not too close, I just love watching them move. I'm starting, though! Went on a whale watch last year and got some really good pictures, though I wish I had a zoom lens at the time (we saw fin whales, minkes, and humpbacks <3).

 

[Luca]

Is this Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts? I live right near there lol and have been on lots of whale watches.
I actually live across the street from a port that some of the boats leave from.

 

[Luca]

Me and my service dog on the boat

 

[Stuttermabolur]

This is among my all time favourite thread titles, and the content lived up to it!

 

[premiumsockets]

Is this Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts? I live right near there lol and have been on lots of whale watches.

Very close! We left from Provincetown and stayed just a bit north of the Cape. On the map where they drew our route, it looks like we just barely tickled the south end of the Bank.

This is among my all time favourite thread titles, and the content lived up to it!

On my first day?? I'm HONORED.

 

[premiumsockets]

Me and my service dog on the boat

also i LOVE your dog

 

[Luca]

Very close! We left from Provincetown and stayed just a bit north of the Cape. On the map where they drew our route, it looks like we just barely tickled the south end of the Bank.

I knew it was Massachusetts for some reason lol!
I love Provincetown btw

 

[premiumsockets]

LOVE p-town, I'm looking forward to my yearly Lobster Pot dinner

 

[AdamG]

I love giant squids. Maybe I'll draw one with a sperm whale now. I like "railgun"

 

[premiumsockets]

I admit I'm a whale-lover but know very little about squid and other aquatic life. I should look them up sometime! And who doesn't love a good railgun!

 

[AdamG]

Well yes, the railgun idea makes me less upset at harm to my giant squid
.
and also I really like whales too. I saw a humpback when in california. They are so smart, I love their vocalizations.

 

[Kitsuna]

I also love the thread title and your artwork!

I like whales, too, though belugas are my favorite, with humpbacks as a close second!

You made me think of an old video of a group of marine biologists finding a sperm whale while doing field research with an ROV.

 

[premiumsockets]

that video is AWESOME and if you like humpbacks, here's some more from this year (i brought a zoom lens this time)

 

[Kitsuna]

Those shots are great! Thanks I’ve never gone whale watching myself but it’s definitely on my bucket list.

I love videos from the Nautilus crew in general. When they find something that excites them, their commentary is so fun to listen to.