Stranding of a Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada

Abstract

A Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, stranded alive and later died in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Canada on 28 August 2001. This is the northern-most stranding of this species in the western Atlantic. The whale was estimated to be approximately 3 m long and a longitudinal section from one tooth (31 mm long and 5.0 mm in diameter) revealed 3.5 growth layer groups.