Pygmy Killer Whale

The pygmy killer whale is a poorly known, rarely seen oceanic dolphin and the only species in its genus. It shares some features with the orca, but it is dark grey to black on the cape with a sharp change to lighter grey on the sides. The flesh around the lips and end of the snout is white, and unlike in the false killer whale the white extends back onto the face. In calm water the small bow wave in front of the face looks like a bottle from a distance (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is found mainly in deeper water, about 500–2,000 m, and records from bycatch suggest a year-round presence in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. It is seen in groups of 4 to 30 or more, and social bonds between individuals can last up to 15 years. It moves slowly, at about 3 km/h. Its occurrence in Japanese waters is documented by the National Museum of Nature and Science marine-mammal database.