Dwarf Sperm Whales

The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest of all animals commonly called a whale, barely larger than some dolphins, and one of the least-studied cetaceans alive today.

Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Cetacea
Family	Kogiidae
Genus	Kogia
Species	sima

Description

Dwarf sperm whales closely resemble their larger relative, the pygmy sperm whale, with a shark-like underslung jaw and a false gill mark, but are distinguished by a taller, more prominent dorsal fin set further forward on the back.

Size

Adults measure just 6.9 to 8.9 feet in length and weigh 300 to 600 pounds, the smallest species commonly called a whale.

Habitat

Dwarf sperm whales live in deep tropical and temperate waters worldwide, typically alone or in small groups of up to a handful of individuals.

Diet

They feed on squid, octopus, fish, and crustaceans, diving deep along continental slopes to hunt.

Behavior

Like the pygmy sperm whale, dwarf sperm whales are elusive and often rest motionless at the surface, and can release a cloud of reddish-brown fluid to help evade predators.