A BARE VISITOR

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1929, Page 11

A BARE VISITOR

PYGMY SPERM WHALE

The Marine.Department reported to the Dominion Museum on Wednesday afternoon: that what appeaved to be a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) had been cast ashore at Breaker Bay, Seatonn. Mr. W. E. B. Oliver, Director of the Museum, proceeded to Breaker Bay, and identified the specimen as being of the species named. The pygmy whale, which was about lift in. length, and is very rare in tho sea around New Zealand, agrees with its hugo cousin the sperm whale in having teeth in the lower jaw only, and in the asymmetrical skull; the teeth are small and pointed, the rear ones being directed backwards. The "fish is black in colour, with a little greyish pink on the under surface. Thero are skeletons or parts of skeletons in the Wanganui,' Dominion, and Canterbury Museums. The pygmy whale is seldom east up on our coasts; during the past forty years only about twelve specimens have been so found. While the work preliminary to preserving the skeleton was in progress an unborn calf was found; and as 'this is probably unique as far as this species of whale is concerned, casts were made of the fully developed embryo. The small whale was 40 inches long and of a general slate colour, and; pink and white beneath the head and on the lower surface of the body. It is hoped 'at a later dato to add the skeleton and cast to the exhibits in the Dominion Museum.