Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

This site is currently in beta, and your feedback is helping shape its ongoing development.

Species Distribution: Pygmy Killer Whale - Hawaii

Published by Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2020-07-13T00:00:00.000+00:00
This dataset contains a collection of known point locations of pygmy killer whales identified either via automated satellite tracking of tagged organisms or through direct human observation via shipborne and aerial surveys. This can be useful for assessing species abundance, population structure, habitat use, and behavior. This collection is aggregated from multiple data sources and survey periods listed below. Each data point contains attributes for further information about the time and source of the observation. This dataset was compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) and may be updated in the future if additional data sources are acquired. Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) has been undertaking surveys for odontocetes in Hawaiian waters since 2000. Pygmy killer whales are one of the least abundant odontocetes in Hawaiian waters. Photo-identification and satellite tagging suggests there are small resident populations of pygmy killer whales off several of the main Hawaiian Islands. In addition, Dr. Joseph Mobley of the Marine Mammal Research Consultants (MMRC) led aerial surveys for cetaceans in Hawaiian waters from 1993-2003. For further information, please see: http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaiian-cetacean-studies/pygmy-killer-whales-hawaii

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov