where does this whale species get its name from?
It is a truncation of "spermaceti whale".
Etymology
The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head (see below).
what ocean zone does the sperm whale live in They are relatively abundant from the poles to the equator and are found in all the oceans.
The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head It is a truncation of "spermaceti whale".
Sperm whale Sperm whale Sperm whale
Etymology Etymology Etymology
The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale".  The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, 
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Sperm whale [SEP] Etymology
The name "sperm whale" is a truncation of "spermaceti whale". Spermaceti, originally mistakenly identified as the whales' semen, is the semi-liquid, waxy substance found within the whale's head (see below). The sperm whale is also known as the "cachalot", which is thought to derive from the archaic French for "tooth" or "big teeth", as preserved for example in ' in the Gascon dialect (a word of either Romance or Basque origin). The etymological dictionary of Corominas says the origin is uncertain, but it suggests that it comes from the Vulgar Latin ', plural of "", "sword hilt". The word "cachalot" came to English via French from Spanish or Portuguese ', perhaps from Galician/Portuguese ', "big head".