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Question: If presented with this scary photograph and no other information, would you be able to identify the animal? Those teeth are approximately 1.5 inches in length and to me, look pretty deadly. If I also told you that the creature was about 12 feet long and is occasionally seen on Nantucket, would you be surprised? As a final bit of information, would you be impressed to know that when startled, this animal could release a dark ink-like fluid to cloud the water to aid in it's escape? Read on to find out the answer.
Answer: If you are knowledgeable about marine mammals, you have probably guessed correctly that this is an open mouthed view of a Pigmy Sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). It stranded on Cisco beach several years ago in late December. Identifying features include a shark like head with an underslung jaw, 24-36 long, sharp, inwardly curved teeth only on the lower jaw, a false gill slit (see the curved white line between the eye and the pectoral fin) and a small sickle shaped dorsal fin located posterior to the mid back. They normally live in the deep waters near the edge of the continental shelf and when seen in this offshore environment, are usually solitary or in small groups floating on the surface.
P.O. Box 3625
Nantucket, MA 02584
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