haracteristic
from which the species derives its common name. (_Photos by D. K.
Caldwell._)]

PYGMY KILLER WHALE (T)

_Feresa attenuata_ Gray 1874

Other Common Names

Slender blackfish, slender pilot whale.

Description

Pygmy killer whales reach a length of about 8-9 feet (2.4-2.7 m). They
are usually relatively slender-bodied with a rounded head, an underslung
jaw, and no beak.

The falcate dorsal fin, located about the center of the back, is usually
between 8 and 12 inches (20.3 and 30.1 cm) tall (though it may reach 15
inches [38 cm] in some individuals), is sometimes very distinctive, and
resembles that of the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin. The flippers are
slightly rounded on the tips.

The color has been described as dark gray or black on the back, often
lighter on the sides, extending higher in front of the dorsal fin and
with a small zone of white on the underside, often a lighter gray area
on the sides, and distinctive white regions around the lips. The chin
may be completely white. This white zone on the chin, described as a
"goatee," is often clearly visible in swimming animals.

May Be Confused With

The pygmy killer whale resembles the false killer whale but is much
smaller and can be distinguished at close range by the zones of white
coloration. False killer whales are almost all black and reach a length
of up to at least 18 feet (5.5 m). Pygmy killer whales are dark gray on
the back, often lighter on the sides, and show a region of white on the
belly which may extend so high up onto the sides that it is visible on a
swimming animal. Further, they reach only 8-9 feet (2.4-2.7 m).

Pygmy killer whales may also be confused with the similarly sized and
colored many-toothed blackfish. So little is known of the two species'
appearance and behavior at sea that it is doubtful that they can be
successfully distinguished, though many-toothed blackfish apparently
lack the white region often seen on the sides of pygmy killer whales.
Further, pygmy killer whales have rounded flippers and smoothly tapered
heads, while those of the many-toothed blackfish are pointed on the tip
and more sharply pointed (often described as a parrot beak).

Distribution

Pygmy killer whales are probably distributed in the tropical and
subtropical waters of the western North Atlantic. They have been
reported from Texas, the Atlantic coast of Florida, and St. Vincent
Island, Lesser Antilles. Records of the sp