The species was first described by English zoologist William Henry Flower in 1882, based on a water-worn skull from Lewis Island, in the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia.

The dorsal fin is relatively small at 30–38 cm (12–15 in), set behind the middle of the back, falcate (sickle-shaped), and usually pointed.

More data need to be collected to understand if coloration differences are individualized or based on geographic range (Van Waerebeek et al., 2005).

Population estimates are lacking; however, southern bottlenose whales accounted for more than 90% of ziphiid sightings in the Antarctic circle (Kasamatsu et al., 1988).

In addition, the southern bottlenose whale is covered by the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region.

The vocal and piano duo Flanders and Swann recorded a humorous song, "The Whale (Mopy Dick)".