Editing Pygmy killer whale (section)

==Description==
[[File:Feresa attenuata by OpenCage.jpg|thumb|Skeleton of a pygmy killer whale]]

=== Distinguishing features ===

The pygmy killer whale is dark gray to black on the cape and has a sharp change to lighter gray on the sides. The flesh around their lips and on the end of their snout is white while pinkish white skin surrounds the genitals. The average length is just over two meters (6.5&nbsp;ft.). Upon reaching 2 meters in length, males are considered sexually mature. They have approximately 48 teeth, with 22 teeth on the top jaw and 26 on the lower jaw.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|title = Biological Data of Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata) from a Mass Stranding in New Caledonia (South Pacific) Associated with Hurricane Jim in 2006|journal = Aquatic Mammals|pages = 162–172|volume = 40|issue = 2|doi = 10.1578/am.40.2.2014.162|first = Eric|last = Clua|year = 2014| bibcode=2014AqMam..40..162C }}</ref>

They travel approximately 3&nbsp;km/hour (2 miles/hour)<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Baird|first1=Robin W.|last2=Schorr|first2=Gregory S.|last3=Webster|first3=Daniel L.|last4=McSweeney|first4=Dan J.|last5=Hanson|first5=M. Bradley|last6=Andrews|first6=Russel D.|date=2011-10-01|title=Movements of two satellite-tagged pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) off the island of Hawai'i|journal=Marine Mammal Science|language=en|volume=27|issue=4|pages=E332–E337|doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00458.x|bibcode=2011MMamS..27E.332B |s2cid=14549941 |issn=1748-7692|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1228&context=usdeptcommercepub|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and  are predominately found in deeper waters ranging from 500 m to 2000 m (1600–6500&nbsp;ft.) in depth.<ref name=":4" />

Pygmy killer whales are most commonly confused with [[melon-headed whale]]s and [[false killer whale]]s. For instance, a published paper describing an encounter with a school of pygmy killer whales<ref name=":0" /> was later determined to be either a mixture of pygmy and false killer whales or solely false killer whales.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Baird|first=Robin W.|title=Pygmy Killer Whales (''Feresa attenuata'') or False Killer Whales (''Pseudorca crassidens'')? Identification of a Group of Small Cetaceans Seen off Ecuador in 2003|journal=Aquatic Mammals|volume=36|issue=3|pages=326–327|doi=10.1578/am.36.3.2010.326|year=2010|bibcode=2010AqMam..36..326B }}</ref>

The three species can be differentiated by physical differences between them. One defining difference is, although both species have white around the mouth, on pygmy killer whales the white extends back onto the face. Pygmy killer whales also have rounded-tipped dorsal fins, as opposed to pointed tips. When compared to false killer whales, pygmy killer whales have a larger dorsal fin. Finally, pygmy killer whales have a more clearly defined line where the dark dorsal color changes to the lighter lateral color than either of the other two species.<ref name=":1" />

Behavioral differences can also be used to differentiate pygmy killer whales from false killer whales. Pygmy killer whales usually move slowly when at the surface whereas false killer whales are highly energetic. Pygmy killer whales rarely bow ride but it is common in false killer whales.<ref name=":1" />

The small size of this species also causes confusion with other dolphins especially where the frontal head shape of the animals encountered remains unseen. Unlike the melon-headed whale, pygmy killer whales do not normally lift the full face above the water as they surface to breathe so it is not easy to confirm the lack of a bottle. Furthermore, in calmer waters the small bow wave pushed in front of the face looks like a bottle from a distance.<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal|last1=Allport|first1=Gary A.|last2=Curtis|first2=Christopher|last3=Pampulim Simões|first3=Tiago|last4=Rodrigues|first4=Maria J.|date=2017-06-08|title=The first authenticated record of Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata Gray 1874) in Mozambique; has it been previously overlooked?|journal=Marine Biodiversity Records|volume=10|issue=1 |pages=17|doi=10.1186/s41200-017-0119-9|issn=1755-2672|doi-access=free|bibcode=2017MBdR...10...17A }}</ref>

=== Early records ===
Prior to the 1950s, the only record of pygmy killer whales was from two skulls identified in 1827 and 1874. In 1952, a specimen was caught and killed in [[Taiji, Wakayama|Taiji]], Japan which is known for its [[Taiji dolphin drive hunt|annual dolphin hunts]]. Six years later, in 1958, an individual was killed off the coast of [[Senegal]]. In 1963, there were two recorded events involving pygmy killer whales. The first was in Japan, where 14 individuals were caught and brought into captivity; all 14 animals were dead within 22 days. The second was off the coast of Hawaii where an individual animal was caught and successfully brought into captivity. In 1967, a single pygmy killer whale off of [[Costa Rica]] died after becoming entangled in a purse seine net. Finally, in 1969, a pygmy killer whale was killed off the coast of St. Vincent and a group of individuals was recorded in the Indian Ocean.<ref name=":5" />