Pygmy Killer Whale

The pygmy killer whale is a small, dark oceanic dolphin with a rounded head, no beak and long flippers with rounded tips. A narrow white lip line and pale belly patch can help distinguish it from the melon-headed and false killer whales (NOAA Fisheries; specialist cetacean guide).

It occurs in deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, usually in groups of a few dozen animals. Fish and squid form the known diet. The species is rarely seen at sea and much information comes from strandings, so population structure and detailed reproduction remain poorly understood (NOAA Fisheries). It is Nationally Least Concern (Thailand Red Data 2025).