PORT PHILLIP BAY


Pygmy Sperm Whale 

Kogia breviceps

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Cetacea
Family:
Kogiidae
Genus:
Kogia
Species:
breviceps

General Description

Body pattern brown-grey to black above and pale underneath. Head square, about one third the length of the body. Up to 3.8 m long.

Biology

These whales are similar in appearance to the larger Sperm Whale and bare the same characteristically-shaped squared head. They weigh up to 450 kg, growing from 50 kg when first born.

Habitat

Deep water areas of temperate and tropical waters, to depth of 1400 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide. Potentially near Port Phillip, recorded from Victoria.

Species Group

Mammals Whales and dolphins

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Surface Midwater

Max Size

3.8 m

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • CITES : Trade restrictions (Appendix II)
  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Data Deficient

Author

article author Fitzgerald, E.

Dr. Erich Fitzgerald is a Senior Curator of palaeontology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Fitzgerald, E. & Patullo, B., 2011, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/8090

Text: creative commons cc by licence