• We have updated the guidelines regarding posting political content: please see the stickied thread on Website Issues.

Whale 'Vomit' Sparks Cash Bonanza

Hmm, years ago I was told that ambergris was impacted whale dung. Now they say it's vomit? Is this based on new research, or have squeamish people just decided that puke is less gross than poop?
I think they've known it was sperm whale vomit for a long time now.
Wish I could find some. I'd solve my financial problems.
 
I've never heard it described as dung. Though I do believe the spermwhale is so named, because that is what they thought ambergris was. Rather than half-digested sea monster.
 
I've never heard it described as dung. Though I do believe the spermwhale is so named, because that is what they thought ambergris was. Rather than half-digested sea monster.
I used to think it was called a sperm whale because it's vaguely shaped like a sperm...but yes, it's a contraction of spermaceti.
 
I think spermaceti is just latin for sperm whale. Ceti as in ceticeans.
 
I think spermaceti is just latin for sperm whale. Ceti as in ceticeans.

Spermaceti (from Latin sperma meaning "semen", and ceti meaning "whale") is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale (and, in smaller quantities, in the oils of other whales). Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermaceti

The name sperm whale is a clip of spermaceti whale. Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_whale#Etymology
 
I call them cachalots, less naughty.
 
When you're out fishing, do you cachalot?
 
Im waiting for a bunch of nutters to go out and try and stick their fingers down a sperm whales throat to make it puke, maybe one called Jonah or Ahab
 
Thai woman finds 7kg suspected ambergris

Siriporn Niamrin was walking along the beach after a rainstorm when she noticed the strange mass in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand on February 23.

She walked up closer to the substance to have a look and found it had a fishy smell.

Based on previous sale prices, the weight would give the vomit - also known as ambergris - an estimated value of around £186,500.

Siriporn said: "If I really have the genuine ambergris, I can help my community once I find a buyer for it.

"I feel lucky to have found such a large piece. I hope it will bring me money.

To further check whether the lump was actually ambergris, they held a naked flame to some of its parts which caused it to melt.

It then hardened again after it cooled down.

She is now waiting for experts to visit her house to confirm that the lump is ambergris

The ambergris could be worth £185,000
 
Ambergris worth £394,000 found in sperm whale

A group of scientists gutted an enormous 43ft, 20 tonne sperm whale after it washed up on Nogales Beach on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma in mid-May - but have now discovered that the ambergris they found inside is worth a whopping £394,000

Forensic studies on the animal revealed last month that its death was caused by the chunk of ambergris obstructing its intestine.

The obstruction led to it suffering from diphtheroid colitis, which caused bacteria from the intestine to enter the blood, resulting in bleeding in many organs.

It is thought to be a substance protective against intestinal irritation caused by the indigestible horny beaks of squid and cuttlefish that the sperm whale feeds upon.

The whale's intestine can accommodate only small chunks of ambergris, so larger pieces must be regurgitated.
It is one of the most valuable raw materials in perfumery and has a unique ability to increase the longevity of a fragrance.
Depending on its quality, it can command a higher price than gold.
1688994245844.png

 
Ambergris worth £394,000 found in sperm whale

A group of scientists gutted an enormous 43ft, 20 tonne sperm whale after it washed up on Nogales Beach on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma in mid-May - but have now discovered that the ambergris they found inside is worth a whopping £394,000

Forensic studies on the animal revealed last month that its death was caused by the chunk of ambergris obstructing its intestine.


View attachment 67724
[Yorkshire accent] Where there's muck, there's brass.
 
Back
Top