 The sperm whale respiratory system has adapted to cope with drastic pressure changes when diving . The flexible ribcage allows lung collapse , reducing nitrogen intake , and metabolism can decrease to conserve oxygen . Between dives , the sperm whale surfaces to breathe for about eight minutes before diving again . Odontoceti ( toothed whales ) breathe air at the surface through a single , S @-@ shaped blowhole , which is extremely skewed to the left . Sperm whales spout ( breathe ) 3 – 5 times per minute at rest , increasing to 6 – 7 times per minute after a dive . The blow is a noisy , single stream that rises up to 2 metres ( 6 @.@ 6 ft ) or more above the surface and points forward and left at a 45 ° angle . On average , females and juveniles blow every 12 @.@ 5 seconds before dives , while large males blow every 17 @.@ 5 seconds before dives . A sperm whale killed 160 km ( 100 mi ) south of Durban , South Africa after a 1 @-@ hour , 50 @-@ minute dive was found with two dogfish ( Scymnodon sp . ) , usually found at the sea floor , in its belly . 
