The dwarf
sperm whale has a porpoise-like form, with the blowhole
positioned on the left side of the forehead, and a shark-like
mouth posterior to the snout. The skull is asymetrical.
The greatest girth of the body is between the dorsal
and pectoral fins. The skin is a steel- gray color with
a white ventrum. Some individuals have pink or purplish
blotches on their venters. The head and body measure
210-270cm. The pectoral fin is 40 cm high, and the expanse
of the flukes is 61 cm. The head is 1/6 of the entire
length of the animal. The facial part of the skull is
the shortest of any cetacean. The large teeth are sharp
and curved, and they are present in the lower jaw only.
Small non-functional teeth may be present in the upper
jaw.
