by: Stephanie Ploen
Its name comes from its larger cousin, the sperm whale, which was named after the very large organ in its head, known as the melon. It is a yellow waxy substance and was the reason that the sperm whale was nearly hunted to extinction.
This species is dark gray to blue-gray, with a tiny falcate dorsal fin. It has broad, short flippers located far forward on the body. The head is squarish with a tiny, underslung jaw and a "false gill" marking behind the eye. Thus it may resemble a shark when stranded. At sea it is often seen in small groups of up to six animals, floating motionless at the surface with only a part of the head and the back and dorsal fin exposed. No teeth are found in the upper jaw.
Pygmy sperm whales reach at least 3.5 m in length.
This whale can be found along the entire coast of South Africa and Namibia, beyond the continental shelf.
Very little is known about the species in general. Most information about its natural history comes from strandings in Florida and South Africa. In recent years, a number of observations have been made in the wild, mainly in the Gulf of California, off the Bahamas and in the Phillipines. The species feeds mainly on squid and few crustaceans and fish. Scallops have been found in its stomach. When in panic or under stress, reddish brown faeces are discharged, which may serve as a defense (camouflage) mechanism.
Little is known about the possible impacts in African waters. However, gillnets may play a role.
Insufficiently known.
Baird R W. Nelson D. Lien J. Nagorsen D W. The status of the Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110(3). 1996. 525-532.
Ross, G.J.B. 1979. Records of pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, genus Kogia, from Southern Africa, with biological notes and some comparisons. Animals of the Cape Provincial Museums (natural history), Volume 11, Part 14.
Jefferson, T.A. Leatherwood, S. and M.A. Webber. 1994. FAO Species Identification Guide, Marine Mammals of the World. FAO of the United Nations, Rome.
Leatherwood, S. and R.R. Reeves. 1987. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club Books, San Fransisco.
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
URL for this page: http://csiwhalesalive.org/csipygmysperm.html