Threatened species of Kogia

Occasionally this species is found in fish markets for human consumption in Indonesia and Japan, as well as being sporadically taken in the subsistence fisheries in the Caribbean and West Indies. Stranded specimens have often been reported to have plastic bags in their stomachs, which prevent the digestion of food, and ultimately lead to starvation. The plastic bags are most likely similar acoustically and visually to some of their preferred prey such as jellyfish and are mistakenly consumed. The pygmy sperm whale and its relative dwarf sperm whale are the second most commonly stranded cetacean in the south eastern U.S., next to the bottlenosed dolphin. Despite efforts to help sick or injured pygmy sperm whales back to health, nearly all have not survived in captivity. The 1981 record remained at 25 days until 1994 when, after six months, a healthy juvenile pygmy sperm whale was released off the coast of Florida.

The genus Kogia has only recently been separated into the two currently recognized species: pygmy and dwarf. Although generally reported as rare, Kogias' commonly strand and are taken directly and indirectly by fisheries. Pygmy and dwarf sperm whales are probably not rare, but are not common sightings, because of their offshore distribution and small group sizes. They are usually not surface active, therefore, very little of their body is usually visible. Animals identified as Kogia spp. were seen commonly during recent aerial surveys off Louisiana and Mississippi, and during deep water ship surveys in the north and northwest Gulf of Mexico. During most Kogia sightings, the particular species identification has not been confirmed. Most of the confirmed Kogia sightings were determined to be dwarf sperm whales. Kogia breviceps, commonly known as the pygmy sperm whale, are thought to range throughout tropical and temperate waters, but are considered rare. Observations and strandings are noted on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts of the United States, Australia, eastern and southern Africa, the Philippines, Japan, India, Europe, South America. It is not known how far it may or may not migrate. Much smaller than the 15 meter sperm whale and slightly larger than the 3 meter dwarf sperm whale, these three are the only known members of the suborder odonteceti or toothed whales. First identified off the Cape of Good Hope (Australia) in 1838 by de Blainville, it has been confused with porpoises and sharks. The pygmy sperm whale also exhibits certain behavior unknown in other whales for which it had been given the nickname the "firecracker" whale.