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.
Distribution
Worldwide. Potentially near Port Phillip, recorded from Victoria.
Habitat
Deep water areas of temperate and tropical waters, to depth of 1400 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Dark brown-grey to black above, pale underneath, squared head.
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Maximum Size
3.8 m
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Squid
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Trade restrictions (Appendix II), DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Data Deficient
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
Surface, Midwater
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Pygmy Sperm Whale
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Suborder
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
breviceps
