Which whale has the largest brain of any animal?

Which whale has the largest brain of any animal? The sperm whale has the largest known brain.

A mature sperm whale's brain weighs about 7 to 8 kilograms and has a volume near 8,000 cubic centimeters, making it the largest known brain of any living or extinct animal. The enormous brain sits inside the whale's massive, block-shaped head, which can make up roughly one-quarter to one-third of its body length.

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales and use echolocation to hunt squid in the deep ocean. Their brains contain highly developed auditory systems suited to processing powerful clicks and returning echoes. They also produce some of the loudest sounds recorded from animals, helping them navigate and locate prey in darkness.

The largest brain does not automatically mean the highest intelligence. Brain size is strongly related to body size, and researchers also compare brain-to-body ratios and brain structure. Dolphins and orcas show sophisticated communication and social behavior, but neither has a larger absolute brain than the sperm whale. The blue whale is larger overall, yet its brain is smaller.