KIHEI, Maui — Marine biologists are investigating the death of a pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore yesterday at Kalama Park.

There were no obvious injuries to the adult male, which measured 9 1/2 feet long and weighed a half-ton, according to David Schofield, marine mammal response coordinator for the Pacific Island Region of NOAA Fisheries.

It was the second dead pygmy sperm whale found on Maui County beaches in less than two weeks, he said. The decomposed carcass of a pregnant whale was found near Shipwreck Beach on Lana'i 10 days ago.

It may be difficult to determine the cause of death in that case, Schofield said, although officials suspect it was related to the pregnancy. The whale was carrying a 4-foot-long, 65-pound full-term calf, he said.

The dead whale in Kihei was reported at 6:30 a.m. yesterday. The volunteer Marine Mammal Response Team coordinated by NOAA Fisheries was called to the beach park along with state conservation officers and police.

The county supplied heavy equipment to cart the carcass away in consultation with Native Hawaiian cultural advisers, Schofield said.

A necropsy was being performed and will provide more information on the species of toothed whale, which inhabits the deep ocean and is rarely seen.

Schofield said the animal appeared to be in good health and was not emaciated, which would have indicated disease or other health problems.

A 10-foot tiger shark, possibly attracted to the carcass, was spotted lurking near shore at Kalama Park later in the morning and a two-mile stretch of beach was closed from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Little is known of pygmy sperm whales, which are roughly the size of large dolphins.

Like sperm whales, their mouth is on the underside of their body, but unlike their bigger cousin, pygmy sperm whales have fewer and smaller teeth, which are sharply pointed and curved. They eat mostly squid but also fish and crabs.

"They keep to themselves and are not social. They 'log' at the surface for long periods of time by themselves and are rarely seen at sea, even though they are the second-most commonly stranded toothed whale in the U.S.," Schofield said.

The most common cause of strandings is ill health because of ingestion of marine debris, he said.

"That they pick up junk in the ocean is testimony to ocean health and that what you release on the land ends up in the sea and in the stomach of these animals," he said.

Anyone who comes across a dead or stranded marine mammal should not attempt to help the animal or push it back into the ocean, according to Schofield. The animals can be aggressive and can carry disease.

They are also protected by federal and state laws that prohibit unauthorized people from approaching. People instead should call the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (888) 256-9840.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.