Pygmy killer whales are probably distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western North Atlantic. They have been reported from Texas, the Atlantic coast of Florida, and St. Vincent Island, Lesser Antilles. Records of the species from the other oceans of the world suggest that its distribution is limited to tropical and subtropical waters.
Stranded pygmy killer whales can be clearly distinguished from both the false killer whale and the many-toothed blackfish. In addition to the differences discussed above, the following are key differences between the pygmy and false killer whales:
10-13 in each side of upper 8-11 per jaw per side, and lower jaws; lower teeth prominent. smaller.
White from anus to under tail Dark from anus to tail stock; stock, white may extend up lighter pale gray area forward sides. between flippers.
Smoothly rounded. Characteristic hump on forward margin.
Pygmy killer whales can be distinguished from many-toothed blackfish on the basis of the second species' larger number of teeth. (Many-toothed blackfish have from 22 to 25 teeth in the upper jaw and from 21 to 24 in the lower jaw.)
[Illustration: Figure 152.--Pygmy killer whales at sea northwest of Hawaii (top) off the island of Oahu, Hawaii (middle), and from southeastern Florida in the tank at the Wometco Miami Seaquarium (bottom). When swimming rapidly, pygmy killer whales may closely resemble the much larger false killer whales. In addition to their much smaller size, rarely exceeding 9 feet (2.7 m), however, pygmy killer whales can be distinguished by their more rounded head, the white coloration of the lips and chin, and the white zone on the belly, sometimes extending up the sides. (_Photos by S. Ohsumi (top); J. Naughton, National Marine Fisheries Service and courtesy of E. Shallenberger, Sea Life Park (middle); and courtesy of Wometco Miami Seaquarium (bottom)._)]
[Illustration: Figure 153.--Pygmy killer whales 5 miles off Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii. These individuals were dark on the back with varying degrees of lighter coloration on the sides, extending high onto the sides in front of the dorsal fin. Many had a white "goatee" on the chin and lower jaw. The prominent dorsal fin is characteristic. (_Photos by E. Shallenberger, courtesy of Sea Life Park, Hawaii._)]