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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Data Deficient |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
Pygmy Sperm Whales appear to prefer areas over continental slopes, although they also use habitats further inshore and further offshore (Scott et al. 2001, Jefferson et al. 2015, McAlpine 2018).
Pygmy Sperm Whales typically occur in small groups or alone (Barlow 2006, Jefferson et al. 2015, McAlpine 2018).
Using a complementary approach of stomach contents and stable isotope analyses, Staudinger et al. (2014) studied the foraging ecology and niche overlap between Pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and Dwarf (Kogia sima) Sperm Whales stranded on the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast between 1998 and 2011. Both species were primarily teuthophagous, high overlap between diets of the two species. Pygmy Sperm Whales consumed slightly larger prey sizes than Dwarf Sperm Whales. A total of 35 species of cephalopods, and 2 species of mesopelagic fishes were represented in their overall diets, with squids from the families Histioteuthidae, Cranchidae, and Ommastrephidae featuring as primary prey. Recurrent species in Pygmy Sperm Whale diet included Histioteuthis reversa, H. bonnellii, Teuthowenia megalops, Taonius sp., Enoploteuthis anapsis, E. leptura, and the commercially important Illex illecebrosus. The remains of two fish species, Sloane's viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) and Parin's spinyfish (Diretmichthys parini), were found in the stomach of a single female Pygmy Sperm Whale. These results suggested that the feeding ecologies of the two species were similar and both occupied equivalent trophic niches in the region (Staudinger et al. 2014). Santos et al. (2006) found that food remains in Pygmy Sperm Whales stranded along the coasts of Spain, France and Scotland consisted almost entirely of cephalopod beaks, although some crustacean and fish remains were also present. The identified prey included Histioteuthis reversa, H. bonnellii, Todarodes sagittatus, Rossia macrosoma, Brachioteuthis riseii, Taonius pavo, Loligo forbesi, the viperfish Chauliodus sloani, and the giant mysid Gnatophausia sp. (Santos et al. 2006). Diet of Pygmy Sperm Whales stranded along the French coast of the Bay of Biscay was mostly composed of small cephalopods, some crustaceans and limited amount of fish (Spitz et al. 2011). Despite a wide range of prey species, one species, Histioteuthis reversa, accounted for 59.7% of reconstructed biomass, with H. bonnelli also representing a significant proportion (5.5% of reconstructed biomass) of the diet (Spitz et al. 2011).
Pygmy Sperm Whale remains have been identified in Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) stomachs (McAlpine 2018).
Pygmy Sperm Whales typically occur in small groups or alone (Barlow 2006, Jefferson et al. 2015, McAlpine 2018).
Using a complementary approach of stomach contents and stable isotope analyses, Staudinger et al. (2014) studied the foraging ecology and niche overlap between Pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and Dwarf (Kogia sima) Sperm Whales stranded on the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast between 1998 and 2011. Both species were primarily teuthophagous, high overlap between diets of the two species. Pygmy Sperm Whales consumed slightly larger prey sizes than Dwarf Sperm Whales. A total of 35 species of cephalopods, and 2 species of mesopelagic fishes were represented in their overall diets, with squids from the families Histioteuthidae, Cranchidae, and Ommastrephidae featuring as primary prey. Recurrent species in Pygmy Sperm Whale diet included Histioteuthis reversa, H. bonnellii, Teuthowenia megalops, Taonius sp., Enoploteuthis anapsis, E. leptura, and the commercially important Illex illecebrosus. The remains of two fish species, Sloane's viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) and Parin's spinyfish (Diretmichthys parini), were found in the stomach of a single female Pygmy Sperm Whale. These results suggested that the feeding ecologies of the two species were similar and both occupied equivalent trophic niches in the region (Staudinger et al. 2014). Santos et al. (2006) found that food remains in Pygmy Sperm Whales stranded along the coasts of Spain, France and Scotland consisted almost entirely of cephalopod beaks, although some crustacean and fish remains were also present. The identified prey included Histioteuthis reversa, H. bonnellii, Todarodes sagittatus, Rossia macrosoma, Brachioteuthis riseii, Taonius pavo, Loligo forbesi, the viperfish Chauliodus sloani, and the giant mysid Gnatophausia sp. (Santos et al. 2006). Diet of Pygmy Sperm Whales stranded along the French coast of the Bay of Biscay was mostly composed of small cephalopods, some crustaceans and limited amount of fish (Spitz et al. 2011). Despite a wide range of prey species, one species, Histioteuthis reversa, accounted for 59.7% of reconstructed biomass, with H. bonnelli also representing a significant proportion (5.5% of reconstructed biomass) of the diet (Spitz et al. 2011).
Pygmy Sperm Whale remains have been identified in Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) stomachs (McAlpine 2018).
Range:
In the North Atlantic, Pygmy Sperm Whales are distributed from tropical waters up to the UK and Ireland (McAlpine 2018).
Strandings of Pygmy Sperm Whale have been recorded in Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands (Berrow and Rogan 1997, Santos et al. 2006, Spitz et al. 2011, Freitas et al. 2012, Díaz-Delgado et al. 2018, Evans 2020).
Sightings have also been recorded in some areas such as Azores and Madeira archipelagos, albeit relatively infrequently (Silva et al. 2014, Alves et al. 2018).
The species is absent from the Mediterranean Sea.
Strandings of Pygmy Sperm Whale have been recorded in Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands (Berrow and Rogan 1997, Santos et al. 2006, Spitz et al. 2011, Freitas et al. 2012, Díaz-Delgado et al. 2018, Evans 2020).
Sightings have also been recorded in some areas such as Azores and Madeira archipelagos, albeit relatively infrequently (Silva et al. 2014, Alves et al. 2018).
The species is absent from the Mediterranean Sea.
Conservation:
Existing conservation actions
The Pygmy Sperm Whale in Europe is protected under a number of treaties, including the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV), ASCOBANS, ACCOBAMS, CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II.
Conservation actions needed to mitigate major threats
The species is extremely poorly known, so a better understanding of its distribution, abundance, population structure, habitat use and threats is needed.
The Pygmy Sperm Whale in Europe is protected under a number of treaties, including the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV), ASCOBANS, ACCOBAMS, CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II.
Conservation actions needed to mitigate major threats
The species is extremely poorly known, so a better understanding of its distribution, abundance, population structure, habitat use and threats is needed.