A description of the first intact Dwarf Sperm whale from the South China Sea and a review of documented specimens of the Kogiidae (Cetacea) from Hong Kong

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2003
Authors:Porter, L, Morton, B
Journal:Systematics and Biodiversity
Volume:1
Date Published:2003
ISBN Number:1477-2000
Keywords:CETACEA, Kogia sima, Physeter catodon
Abstract:

Reports of the Dwarf Sperm whale (Kogia sima) in Chinese waters exist only for four specimens, which stranded along the coast of the East China Sea. Records of this species in the South China Sea consist of one skull noted as present in a Vietnamese ?whale temple?. Recently recognized material in the biological sciences building of the University of Hong Kong, confirms the presence of both the Dwarf (K. sima) and the Pygmy (K. breviceps) Sperm whales in Hong Kong. In addition, close examination of Hong Kong stranding records reveals that of the four specimens identified as K. breviceps one is, in fact, K. sima. A comparison of the Hong Kong material, the holotype of K. sima and other Asian specimens of Kogia spp. affirms that most of the features already used elsewhere to distinguish the two species are reliable.Reports of the Dwarf Sperm whale (Kogia sima) in Chinese waters exist only for four specimens, which stranded along the coast of the East China Sea. Records of this species in the South China Sea consist of one skull noted as present in a Vietnamese ?whale temple?. Recently recognized material in the biological sciences building of the University of Hong Kong, confirms the presence of both the Dwarf (K. sima) and the Pygmy (K. breviceps) Sperm whales in Hong Kong. In addition, close examination of Hong Kong stranding records reveals that of the four specimens identified as K. breviceps one is, in fact, K. sima. A comparison of the Hong Kong material, the holotype of K. sima and other Asian specimens of Kogia spp. affirms that most of the features already used elsewhere to distinguish the two species are reliable.

URL:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1017/S1477200003001038
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