Dwarf sperm whale
| Dwarf sperm whale | |
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| Size compared to an average human | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Cetacea |
| Family: | Kogiidae |
| Subfamily: | Kogiinae |
| Genus: | Kogia |
| Species: | K. sima |
| Binomial name | |
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Kogia sima Owen, 1866 |
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| Dwarf sperm whale range | |
The dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima, formerly Kogia simus) is one of three extant species in the sperm whale family. They are not often sighted at sea, and most extant information comes from the study of stranded carcasses.
Today, the dwarf sperm whale is generally classified as one of two species, along with the pygmy sperm whale, in the family Kogiidae and genus Kogia. The two species were not regarded as separate until 1966. Most taxonomists regard the family Kogiidae as belonging to the superfamily Physeteroidea, though some consider this taxon to be a subfamily (Kogiinae) of the family Physeteridae.
The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest species commonly known as a whale. It grows up to 2.7 m (8.9 ft) in length and 250 kilograms (550 lb) in weight— making it smaller than the bigger species of dolphin. Specimens often make slow, deliberate movements with little splash or blow and usually lie motionless when at the sea's surface. Consequently, they are usually observed only in very calm seas (Beaufort 0–1).
The dwarf sperm whale is similar in appearance and behavior to its relative, the pygmy sperm whale. Identification may be close to impossible at sea; however, the dwarf is slightly smaller and has a larger dorsal fin. The body is mainly bluish gray with a lighter underside with possible yellowish vein-like streaks. A white false gill is behind each eye. The flippers are very short and broad. The top of the snout overhangs the lower jaw, which is small. Dwarves have long, curved, sharp teeth (none to six in the upper jaw and between 14 and 26 in the lower). These teeth led to the species being described as the "rat porpoise" in the Lower Antilles.
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