Whales

Pygmy Sperm Whale - Kogia breviceps

The Pygmy Sperm Whale is just over 1m in length at birth, and rows to about 3.5m. Adults weigh less than half a ton. The back of the body is a blue/grey colour, which usually mingles with the cream or pink underbelly. Like the regular Sperm Whale, the head of the Pygmy Sperm Whale is enormous compared to the body size and the blowhole is situated on the front of the head, slightly to the left. The +- 25 teeth are all on the lower jaw, and the dorsal fin is small and curved into a hook-shape.

The Pygmy Sperm Whale also has a spermaceti organ in the front of its head, as does the Sperm Whale. This organ contains a waxy-lie semi-liquid, which aids in the buoyancy of the whale as cold water hardens the wax for extra density and stored-up oxygen. An intestinal sac is filled with a dark red liquid, which is forced out when the Pygmy Sperm Whale is under stress. This liquid disorients potential and existing predators.

When swimming naturally in its environment, the Pygmy Sperm Whale moves slowly and inconspicuously. It floats to the surface of the water, not making any major splashes or blows, floats for extended periods of time, then sinks quietly back into the watery deeps. The Pygmy Sperm Whale will usually be found swimming alone, but may occasionally be found in a pod of up to 6 other Pygmies. They frequent the more temperate oceans of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian, and prefer the off-shore waters. Their primary food source comes from squid and crabs.

The Pygmy Sperm Whale is listed by the IUCN as being “Least Concern” and is relatively safe from whale hunters. However, some have been caught in fishing nets and land-based whalers have caught them in Indonesia and Japan.