“…and today we’re talking about a little big creature. But more on that later.”
Description
Appearance: Compact body with a blunt, shark-like head, small lower jaw, and grayish skin that may appear wrinkled, especially in older individuals. They have a dorsal fin, smaller than that of the pygmy sperm whale, and a distinctive white or pinkish “false gill” marking behind the eye.
Unique Feature: Like its relative, the pygmy sperm whale, it possesses a spermaceti organ in its head, though smaller than that of the larger sperm whale. It can also expel a dark, reddish-brown ink-like fluid from a sac in its intestine to deter predators or confuse prey, similar to a squid.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com.
The WHALE who sang OPERA Disney 1946
Length of the Dwarf Sperm Whale
The Dwarf Sperm Whale has a total length of 8.9 feet (2.71 meters). How many objects fit into the whale’s length (if the object is shorter) or how many whales fit into the object’s length (if the object is longer)?
a) The length of a Pacific manta ray’s disc
The disc (wing-like fins) of a Pacific manta ray (Mobula birostris), found in Indo-Pacific waters, measures about 6 feet (1.83 meters) across for an average adult, per marine biology data.
b) The length of the HMAS Sydney’s anchor chain
The HMAS Sydney, an Australian light cruiser from World War II, had an anchor chain approximately 360 feet (109.73 meters) long, based on naval records for similar vessels.
c) The length of a green sea turtle
A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), common in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, measures about 4 feet (1.22 meters) in carapace length for an adult.
Question: How many fit into each length comparison?
A) 3.5 Pacific manta ray discs go into the length of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
B) 40.5 Dwarf Sperm Whales go into the length of the HMAS Sydney’s anchor chain
C) 4.2 green sea turtles go into the length of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
Weight of the Dwarf Sperm Whale
The Dwarf Sperm Whale weighs 600 pounds (272 kg). How many objects fit into the whale’s weight (if the object is lighter) or how many whales fit into the object’s weight (if the object is heavier)?
a) The weight of a Hawaiian monk seal pup
A newborn Hawaiian monk seal pup (Neomonachus schauinslandi), found in Pacific waters, weighs about 30 pounds (13.6 kg), per wildlife data.
b) The weight of the SS Yongala’s anchor
The SS Yongala, a shipwreck off Queensland, Australia, had an anchor weighing approximately 2,000 pounds (907 kg), based on maritime records of early 20th-century steamships.
c) The weight of a giant clam
A giant clam (Tridacna gigas), found in Indo-Pacific coral reefs, weighs about 200 pounds (90.7 kg) for an average adult, per marine biology data.
Question: How many fit into each weight comparison?
A) 22.0 Hawaiian monk seal pups go into the weight of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
B) 2.3 Dwarf Sperm Whales go into the weight of the SS Yongala’s anchor
C) 3.0 giant clams go into the weight of a Dwarf Sperm Whale
Fast facts
Habitat and Distribution
Found in deep waters (typically over 1,000 meters) along continental shelves and slopes in tropical and temperate regions, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Rarely seen near shore except in areas with deep water close to land, like parts of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean.
Diving: Capable of deep dives up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) or more to feed, lasting 10–20 minutes, though they often perform shorter dives.
Diet: Feeds primarily on deep-sea cephalopods (squid and octopus), crustaceans, and small fish.
Social Structure: Solitary or found in small groups of 2–10 individuals, often mother-calf pairs or small pods. They are shy and avoid boats, making sightings rare.
Vocalization: Produces clicks for echolocation, similar to other toothed whales, but less is known about their communication compared to other species.
They are often confused with the closely related pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), but the dwarf sperm whale is slightly smaller, with a more pointed dorsal fin located further back on the body.
Rarely observed at sea due to their preference for deep waters and tendency to avoid vessels, making most knowledge about them come from stranded individuals.
Their ink-release defense mechanism is unique among whales and is thought to create a cloud to escape predators like sharks or orcas.