Female sperm whales and calves usually stay in tropical or subtropical waters throughout the year. Males have longer ranges and can travel to even higher latitudes. Red phalaropes are usually found in the ocean off the western coasts of South America and Africa. They oftentimes gather around food sources, and in many cases flock to a surfacing group of sperm whales. Sperm whale pods can have up to 20 members and provide a decent meal to the parasite-eating shorebird. Red phalaropes nest in the wet tundra of the Arctic.
Sperm whales are toothed mammals that primarily eat fish and squid. They are known to dive to depths greater than 3,000 feet in search of food. When doing so, sperm whales hold their breath for up to 90 minutes. Each day, sperm whales consume approximately one ton worth of fish and squid. Adults weigh between 35 and 45 tons and grow to lengths of 60 feet. Red phalaropes eat plankton and invertebrates that include insects, crustaceans and mollusks. They bring their food to the surface by rapidly swimming in circles above the water, which creates pockets of food upwellings. In addition, red phalaropes eat parasites off the backs of whales.
Male sperm whales head to the equator to breed. Females stay in these regions throughout the year and raise calves communally. Males move from group to group. The sex roles are reversed with red phalaropes. Females attract attention from males with strong displays of flight. Once the female has laid her eggs, the male stays and provides the parental care. The male phalarope incubates the eggs for about three weeks.
Climate change and habitat destruction threaten sperm whales and red phalaropes alike. Although sperm whale populations are fairly numerous, their protection status is endangered. In the 18th and 19th centuries, sperm whales were targeted for oil and ambergris (a waxy substance valuable for its use in perfumes). Unlike the sperm whale, the red phalarope is not categorized as endangered. The global population is estimated around 1,000,000, according to The Canadian Wildlife Service. In breeding areas, the red phalarope is rather abundant. However, oil spills and tundra development threaten the population. Oil spills also threaten sperm whale populations by minimizing and altering their food supplies.
