These animals look so similar to pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) that it's challenging to tell the two apart. They were even believed to be the same species until 1966 .

Smaller pygmy sperm whales live in the ocean around South Carolina all year round, but other species pass through the Myrtle Beach area seasonally.

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A live, pygmy sperm whale calf was reported stranded on the beach in Emerald Isle Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025. This whale was a female and died just before a rescue team ...

“Pygmy sperm whales don’t show up on local beaches unless there is something wrong, so we started with a strong indication of poor health by virtue of the stranding itself,” said Dr. Peters.

“Each pygmy sperm whale has a sac filled with dark liquid in its intestine. The whale can release more than 3 gallons of dark, reddish-brown liquid, or ‘ink,’ from this sac.

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A female pygmy sperm whale found beached on the rocks in central Florida has been euthanized. Florida Today reports that biologists had to kill the marine mammal on ...

A pygmy sperm whale washed up on the shore at Pismo State Beach on Valentine’s Day. It’s exciting for scientists because these deep-sea whales are rarely seen and not well understood.

Rarely seen species of deep sea whale found alive on North Carolina’s Emerald Isle, but it died before help arrived, officials say. It was a pygmy sperm whale.

Rarely seen species of deep sea whale found alive on North Carolina’s Emerald Isle, but it died before help arrived, officials say. It was a pygmy sperm whale.

Rarely seen species of deep sea whale found alive on North Carolina’s Emerald Isle, but it died before help arrived, officials say. It was a pygmy sperm whale.

Rarely seen species of deep sea whale found alive on North Carolina’s Emerald Isle, but it died before help arrived, officials say. It was a pygmy sperm whale.

Rarely seen species of deep sea whale found alive on North Carolina’s Emerald Isle, but it died before help arrived, officials say. It was a pygmy sperm whale.