SCIENTIFIC NAME: Kogia breviceps

DISCOVERED: de Blainville, 1838

COMMON NAME: Pygmy Sperm Whale

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:

Seems to prefer warmer waters: there are records from almost all temperate, subtropical and tropical seas
Appears to be common off the southeastern coast of the USA and around southern Africa, southwestern Australia, and New Zealand

DESCRIPTION:

Creamy white false gill behind each eye
Small size
Creamy white false gill behind each eye
Robust body
Tiny, hooked, falcate fin
Squarish head
Fin postioned far behind and in the center

NATURAL HISTORY:

HABITAT:

Mainly a deep water diver
Usually seen beyond the continental shelf

FOOD & FEEDING:

Cephalopods from the disphotic zone (primary food)
Secondary components: euphotic benthic invertebrates and disphotic pelagic and dimersal fish

LIFE CYCLE:

Maximum body length of at least 3.4 m ( male and female are similar in size and appearance)
Height of dorsal fin is less than 5% of the total body length
Females reach sexual maturity at a length of 2.6-2.9 m, males at 2.7-3 m
Calves are about 1.2 m long at birth
Calving appears to take place during autumn and spring
Gestation period is believed to last about 11 months

BEHAVIOR:

Low inconspicuous blow
May float motionless at surface
Slow, deliberate movements when surfacing and simply drops out of sight when submerging
May occasionally breach
When startled, may evacuate a reddish brown fluid and then dive, leaving behind a cloud in th water; may function as a decoy
Some reports indicate they are non-social, staying alone of in mother-calf groups

WORLD POPULATION:

Lack of records due to unobtrusive behavior

HUMAN INFLUENCES:

No major post or present threats are known