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The Dwarf sperm whale
Kogia sima
​General description
The dwarf sperm whale has a robust and stocky body, but smaller than that of the pygmy sperm whale. Its morphology is similar, with a compact body, long and narrow at the posterior level, but its head is more pointed and its muzzle shorter. Another distinctive character is its dorsal fin: located in the center of the back, it is prominent, with a broad base and a pointed end. Its back has a dark bluish-gray tint, while its sides are lighter and its belly is white.
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Habitat
The dwarf sperm whale is cosmopolitan, living in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Unlike the pygmy sperm whale, it seems to prefer coastal rather than pelagic habitats.
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Diet
Mainly teutophagous, the dwarf sperm whale feeds on cephalopods, particularly squid. It can also eat fish and shellfish. Its dives, generally shallower than those of the pygmy sperm whale, last between 7 and 15 minutes.
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Behavior
The dwarf sperm whale is generally observed alone, although it can sometimes move in small groups of less than 10 individuals. Difficult to observe due to its small size, stealth and immobile behavior on the surface, little information is available on its behavior. Fearful, he avoids interactions with ships. When it feels threatened, it releases a dark liquid contained in an intestinal sac, forming a cloud in the water to escape its predators.
Family : Kogiidae​​
Height (m)​​
Weight (Kg)
Lifespan (years)
Sexual Maturity
(years)
Gestation
(month)
2.10 – 2.40
155 – 210
22
2.5 – 5
2.10 – 2.40
155 – 210
22
2.5 – 5
9.5
Global distribution of the pygmy sperm whale, adapted from Plön S, Relton C. 2016. A conservation assessment of Kogia spp. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.
Observations in the Lesser Antilles (CCS)
Main threats
Dwarf sperm whales are threatened by entanglements in fishing gear, exposing them to serious and sometimes fatal injuries, and by collisions with ships in areas of heavy maritime traffic. Noise pollution disrupts their communication and behaviors, while ingesting marine debris, such as plastic, can cause fatal intestinal obstructions.
Insufficient Data
IUCN Status :
References
- Sylvestre, Jean-Pierre. 2014. Cetaceans of the World Systematics, Ethology, Biology, Ecology, Status. Practical Guide. Éditions Quae.
- Plön, S., Best, P. B., Duignan, P., Lavery, S. D., Bernard, R. T. F., Van Waerebeek, K., & Baker, C. S. (2023). Population structure of pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf (Kogia sima) sperm whales in the Southern Hemisphere may reflect foraging ecology and dispersal patterns. Advances in marine biology, 96, 85–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.amb.2023.09.001
- NOAA Fisheries
- International Whaling Commision