Pygmy killer whale

Pygmy killer whale
Pod of pygmy killer whales off of Guam
Size compared to an average human
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Feresa
J. E. Gray, 1870
Species:
F. attenuata
Binomial name
Feresa attenuata
(J. E. Gray, 1874)
A world map shows pygmy killer whales are found throughout all tropical and subtropical portions of the oceans.
  Range of the pygmy killer whale

The pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) is a poorly known and rarely seen oceanic dolphin.[3] It is the only species in the genus Feresa. It derives its common name from sharing some physical characteristics with the orca, also known as the killer whale. It is the smallest cetacean species that has the word "whale" in its common name.[4] Although the species has been known to be extremely aggressive in captivity, this aggressive behavior has not been observed in the wild.[5]

The species had been described by John Gray in 1874, based on two skulls identified in 1827 and 1874. The next recorded sighting was in 1952 which led to its formal naming by Japanese cetologist Munesato Yamada in 1954.[6]

  1. ^ Braulik, G. (2018). "Feresa attenuata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T8551A50354433. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T8551A50354433.en. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  3. ^ McSweeney, Daniel J.; Baird, Robin W.; Mahaffy, Sabre D.; Webster, Daniel L.; Schorr, Gregory S. (July 1, 2009). "Site fidelity and association patterns of a rare species: Pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) in the main Hawaiian Islands". Marine Mammal Science. 25 (3): 557–572. Bibcode:2009MMamS..25..557M. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00267.x. ISSN 1748-7692.
  4. ^ Masa Ushioda, “Pygmy Killer Whale”, ”Cool Water Photo”, March 11, 2015
  5. ^ Castro, Cristina (2004). "Encounter with a school of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) in Ecuador, southeast tropical Pacific". Aquatic Mammals. 30 (3): 441–444. doi:10.1578/AM.30.3.2004.441.
  6. ^ "Cascadia Research Collective pygmy killer whales in Hawai'i". www.cascadiaresearch.org. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.