Whales - Species | Pygmy Killer Whale

Pygmy Killer Whale - Feresa attenuate

The Pygmy Killer Whale, also known as the Slender Pilot Whale, is the size of an average dolphin and only a little heavier than an adult male. The dark bodies are sturdy and stocky, and this darkness is even more intense on the cape of the whale. The colours can either black, blue-black or brown, but always dark. The heads are bulbous and the Pygmy Killer Whale does not have a beak. As with the Killer Whale, the sides and underbelly of this mammal is white, as is the lining around its mouth and chin that occurs in some specimens. The tall dorsal fin is slightly curved in a sickle shape. Although its name implies that it is related to the Killer Whale, it does, in fact, not share a close relationship with the orca. It is far more accurately considered to be a member of the dolphin family. The Pygmy Killer Whale has 8 – 11 pairs of teeth in the top jaw and 11 – 13 pairs in the lower jaw.

The Pygmy Killer Whale is seldom seen and was, for a long time, known only by two skulls at the British Museum. It was only in 1952 that whale hunters discovered this “rare porpoise” and more information was gleaned.

By nature, the Pygmy Killer Whale is not friendly or cooperative. It does not approach tourist boats, as some other species are known for doing. The species that occur off the coast of South Africa are particularly aggressive, and are known to attack members of their own species as well as other dolphins. The Pygmy Killer Whale travels in large groups, usually ranging in size from 10 to 30, but sometimes even larger. These pods have been known to attack and kill as a herd. While they attack other large species, they tend to prefer to feed on smaller fish and squid, and only eat other dolphins occasionally.

The Pygmy Killer Whale occupies the eastern Pacific Ocean, and usually off the coast of Japan and Hawaii, as well as the Indian Ocean. They prefer deep waters, further away from the shore. Sexual maturity is reached at about 7 feet in length for both males and females.

Although Japanese and Sri Lankan fishermen catch about 500 Pygmy Killer Whales each year, some of the other major threats to these creatures are fishing nets and tuna traps.