By Sarah Cover
Geographic Range
The pygmy right whale is found only in a narrow band of waters near the South Pole. The band circles Antarctica, covering area in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Biogeographic Regions:
atlantic ocean 
(native ); pacific ocean (native ).
Habitat
Pygmy right whales live in a pelagic aquatic habitat, in the cool to cold ocean waters surrounding Antarctica.
Physical Description
(9900 lbs)
The pygmy right whale is 5-6 meters in length. Distinguishing features include a small dorsal fin situated far back, and two throat grooves. Each of these features is uncharacteristic for all species of right whale, except the pygmy right whale.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproductive habits of the pygmy right whale. A mother bears one young per birth. If the reproductive habits of pygmy right whales resemble those of other right whales, one can infer that gestation period is probably about 10-12 months.
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .
The offspring stay with their mother until weaning, which may take place at 6 months to one year of age.
Parental investment:
pre-fertilization (provisioning, protecting: female); pre-hatching/birth (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-independence (provisioning: female, protecting: female).
Behavior
Very little is known about the behavior of the pygmy right whale. Because they have not been observed at length at all, their social behavior is very much a mystery. On one occasion, a group of 8 whales was sighted; it may be that these animals were group/family living. Other right whales live in small family groups, and it is very possible that this is also true for the pygmy right whale.
Key behaviors:
natatorial ; motile ; social .
Food Habits
The pygmy right whale, like most smaller baleen whales, feeds on krill. Its huge mouth takes in massive quantities of water and then filters the krill out through baleen plates, spitting the krill-free water out.
Primary Diet:
carnivore (eats non-insect arthropods).
Animal Foods:
aquatic crustaceans.
Foraging Behaviors:
filter-feeding .
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
Appendix I.
The pygmy right whale is so rare and unstudied, we don't even know how rare it is. There is no accurate count of pygmy right whales.
Other Comments
The pygmy right whale is the smallest known baleen whale.
Contributors
Sarah Cover (author), University of Michigan.
Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
