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Beaked Whales Andrews' Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini) Andrews' Beaked Whale is a little-known, and little-seen,
cetacean, known only from strandings. It inhabits the waters of New Zealand and
Australia. It has also been spotted in the waters just north of Antarctica. Classification: Named by the American naturalist Roy C. Andrews in 1908, deriving its specific
name, Bowdoini, after George Bowdoin,
a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History. Recognition at sea: It is
virtually impossible to tell this species from either Hubbs' Beaked Whale or
Stejneger's Beaked Whale.
Arnoux's Beaked Whale is a little-known, and little-seen,
species. It is probably found in deep offshore waters south of the Tropic of
Capricorn. Pods have been sighted around the southernmost coasts of South
America, South Africa and Australasia. Due to the number of strandings, they
seem to summer around the Cook Strait region of New Zealand. Habitat: Unknown.
Baird's Beaked Whale is found in the North Pacific Ocean,
and spends summer in inshore waters, and winter offshore. This species is most Longevity: Between 35-80
years.
This cetacean is known only from the Juan Fernández
Archipelago, west of Chile.
Blainville's Beaked Whale is the most widely distributed Mesoplodon. It is known along the
Canadian, American and Caribbean coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. Other reports,
however, are scattered: there has been one report from each of Portugal, Spain,
Madiera, Japan, and Australia. Other sightings have been reported from Hawaii,
Taiwan, Midway Island, Mauritius, the Seychelles and South Africa. Classification: Originally identified by
French natural historian Henri de Blainville from a piece of the upper jaw,
Blainville's Beaked Whale has been found to produce the most dense bone of any
animal. Therefore its specific name, densirostris,
reflects this (denus and rostrum being Latin for 'dense' and
'beak' respectively). Local Names: Dense Beaked Whale;
Atlantic Beaked Whale; Tropical Beaked Whale. Description: The main pattern of this
species is dark above, light below, with a tendancy for the dorsal fin to
darken considerably in adults. In the young the belly is cream which darkens to
a blue-grey hide. There is an eye patch which is also dark, with females alone
developing both white upper and lower jaws and scars. The lower jaw is arched
in the same fashion as the Right Whales', with a promiant tooth erupting at the
peak of this arch in males. The maximum recorded lengths have been 4.73m (male)
and 4.71m (female). Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Warm temperate to tropical waters. Food & Feeding:It is
thought that squid and possibly small fish are this cetacean's primary prey. Behaviour: It is thought that Blainville's
Beaked Whales travel in groups of between three to seven individuals, and they
communicate via pulsed 'clicks' and whistles. Scars on some stranded animals
may indicate attacks from Orcas or False Killer Whales. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: This
species was taken by Taiwan through the small cetaceans fisheries.
Cuvier's Beaked Whale is one of the most widespread in its
family, occuring in all save the polar seas. No migrations are known, and
populations are residential around Japan, Hawaii and New Zealand. Classification: This species' genus name
originates from xiphos, which is
Greek for 'sword'. Caviorstris comes
from the Latin cavus ('hollow') and rostrum ('beak'), thus referring to the
basin found on the skull just before the blowhole. Local Names: Cuvier's Whale; Goosebeak
Whale; Goose-Beaked Whale; Akabo-Kujira or Kajippo (Japan). Description: Cuvier's Beaked Whale is
similar in stature and shape to other beaked whales, with small flippers and
dorsal fin, and a stocky but compressed body. The beak is not set apart from
the melon, and the mouthline is curved at the back, showing a hint of a 'grin'.
Young are generally brown to grey, with a paler head and belly. With age, the
head becomes mostly white, which is especially noticeable in males. The body
colour of adults is varied: at the surface it can have a reddish cast, but
could also be either tan, light brown, acorn brown, or 'gun-metal' blue. Scars
give each individual a different appearance. There are two teeth at the front
of the lower jaw, and these erupt through the gum in males to become exposed
when the mouth is closed. The maximum length documented so far has been 7m for
males and 7.5m for females, while a female of 6.5m weighed in at just below 3
tonnes. Recognition at sea: Cuvier's
Beaked Whale can be confused with the other species of beaked whales. However,
experienced watchers may be able to distinguish it by looking for the sloping
forehead, short beak, exposed tusks in adult males and the pale or white head.
The blow is low and inconspicuous. Habitat: This is a deepwater species that
is rarely seen in coastal waters. Food & Feeding: The diet
of this species is not properly known, but stomach contents suggest that mainly
squid and deepsea fish are taken. Behaviour: These whales are usually found
in units of between two to seven individuals, or - as with adult males - alone.
When at the surface, the chin seems to be thrust forward above the water, and
occasional breaches have been witnessed. Strandings are normally of single
animals only. Longevity: Approximately 60 years. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Cuvier's
Beaked Whale have only been directly caught by Japan, with 13-60 animals being
taken every year between 1965-1970. Occasionally caught in other cetacean
hunts, such as by those of the Lesser Antilles, this species was also used as
targets by French and Spanish military vessels in the Mediterranean.
Gervais' Beaked Whales are found in the western North
Atlantic, commonly stranding along the coast of America from New York to Texas
and Florida. Caribbran and West African strandings have also been reported.
Oddly, there is no explanation for why the first specimen was found as far
north as the English Channel. Classification: The French biologist,
Gervais, classified this species in 1855. Its specific name, europaeus, refers to where the first
specimen was found - floating in the English Channel. Local Names: Gulf Stream Beaked Whale;
Antillean Beaked Whale; European Beaked Whale. Description: Gervais' Beaked Whales are
grey in colour, which lightens to a pale grey on the undersides. The head is
small and sometimes has a white tip. Two small front teeth are found towards
the front of the mouth. The longest male measured 4.5m, and the longest female
5.2m, which suggests sexual dimorphism. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Gervais' Beaked Whale inhabits
tropical to warm temperate waters in the Atlantic. Food & Feeding: A
stomach analysis of an adult Gervais' Beaked Whale shows that squid is the main
food source. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
The Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale is only known from
strandings - ten in the North Pacific, one from the South Pacific, and two from
the Indian Ocean. Classification: This species was
classified by two Japanese scientists, Nishiwaki and Kamiya, in 1957. The
common and specific name, ginkgodens,
refers to the shape of its teeth, which resemble the leaves of the Japanese
ginkgo tree. Local Names: Japanese Beaked Whale;
Ichoha Kujira (Japan); Ginkgo Beaked Whale. Description: Adult males are dark grey
in colour, and females are lighter with pale undersides. The teeth on the lower
jaw are found towards the middle of the beak and erupt only in mature males. The
longest female measured 4.9m, the longest male 4.7m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: The Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale
inhabits tropical to warm temperate waters. Food & Feeding: Unknown. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Indivuiduals
have been caught in Japan's small cetacean fisheries.
Gray's Beaked Whale seems to be curcumpolar in the
Southern Hemisphere as most records are from New Zealand and Australia. Other
sightings and strandings have been noted in Chile, South Africa, amd Argentina.
One individual stranded in 1927 on the coast of the Netherlands. Classification: This species was
classified by Julius Von Haast (Director of the New Zealand Museum) in 1876. It
was dedicated to the memory of the famous British biologist, John Gray, who
died the year before. Local Names: Scamperdown Whale;
Southern Beaked Whale. Description: Adults are dark grey in
colour, with pale patches on the undersides. The small head leads to a narrow
beak which becomes white in adulthood. Two small, triangular teeth erupt from
the front of the lopwer jaw in both sexes. There are 17-22 pairs of small teeth
in the upper jaw. The longest male ever recorded measured 4.74m, with the
longest female measuring 5.64m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Gray's Beaked Whale is thought
to prefer cool temperate seas. Food & Feeding:Unknown. Behaviour: Individuals have been known to
raise their beak from the water upon surfacing. One mass stranding of 28
animals has been reported, an unusual event for beaked whales. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
Hector's Beaked Whale is known from records in the
Southern Hemisphere, mainly Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Falkland
Isles, and some countries of South America. In recent years, however, it seems
that this cetacean's range has extended, for some have stranded in Southern
California, USA. Classification: It was in 1871 that John
Gray described this species. The specific name, hectori, is derived from J. Hector, the curator of the New Zealand
museum that housed the first specimen. Local Names: New Zealand Beaked Whale;
Skew-Beaked Whale. Description: Hector's Beaked Whale
appears to be dark grey to brown in colour, with pale grey undersides.
Scratches and scars are common on the flanks, while a small triangular tooth is
found exposed on either side of the lower jaw near the tip. The longest
stranded male was 4.3m, with the longest female slightly bigger at 4.43m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Hector's Beaked Whale tends to
prefer cool temperate waters. Food & Feeding:A stomach
analysis of an adult Hector's Beaked Whale shows that squid is the main food
source. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
Hubbs' Beaked Whale is a little-known, and little-seen,
cetacean. It inhabits the North Pacific. Classification: The American biologist Moore described
this species in 1963 and named it after the American marine biologist Carl
Hubbs. Local Names: Arch-Beaked Whale. Description: Adult females and the
young are medium grey which fades through lighter grey to white on the flanks
and undersides. Males are dark grey to black, save for a white region from the
rostrum's tip and lower jaw to the back of the teeth, and another around the
blowhole. Two prominant teeth erupt from the rear of their lower jaw, but
remain concealed in females. The skin may have many scratches from other males'
teeth. Both the longest male and the longest female specimens measured 5.32m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Hubbs' Beaked Whale inhabits
cold temperate waters, and seems to follow the deep subarctic currents. Food & Feeding:A stomach
analysis of an adult Hubbs' Beaked Whale shows that squid and deepsea fish are
the main prey. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Japan has
taken some individuals as part of the small-scale harpoon fisheries.
The Lesser Beaked Whale is a little-known, and
little-seen, species, known only from thirteen specimens. It is known only in
Peruvian waters. Its existence was first noted in 1976 - from an unidentified
skull found at a Peruvian fish market; nine years later a full skeleton was
discovered in the same way. In 1988 a stranded adult male was found on a beach;
and in 1991 the species was properly named. Classification: This species was named in
1991, after the country in which the first specimens were found. Local Names: Peruvian Beaked Whale;
Pygmy Beaked Whale. Description: The smallest of all Mesoplodon species, the Lesser Beaked
Whale has a small, triangular dorsal fin and a short, narrow beak. The head is
also narrow and the melon not as bulbous as in other species. There are two
teeth on the lower jaw. This cetacean in dark grey in colour, which fades to
light grey on the undersides. It appears to measure between 3.4-3.7m in length. Recognition at sea: This
species is very difficult to distinguish at sea due to the little amount of
information that is available. The blow is inconspicuous. Habitat: The Lesser Beaked Whale has so
far only been found in the waters off the coast of Peru. Food & Feeding:It is
thought that this species preys mainly on deepsea fish and squid. Behaviour: The Lesser Beaked Whale has been
seen in groups of two-three individuals (the third is usually a calf), although
all strandings have involved lone animals. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
Longman's Beaked Whale is one of the most enigmatic of
whales, which has never been identified in the flesh. Two skulls found on
beaches have been assigned to this species: one from Queensland, Australia, the
other from Somalia. It is thought that this is a deepsea Indo-Pacific species. Classification: Longman originally thought
this species to belong to the genus Mesoplodon
and to resemble True's Beaked Whale. In 1926 - some forty-four years after the
first skull was found - he gave it the name pacificus,
in order to distinguish it from the latter, which was only known by three
specimens at the time. However, Alan N. Baker from New Zealand's National
Museum has suggested that one of the skulls is too large for a Mesoplodon, and, like other scientists,
believes that Longman's Beaked Whale should be in a genus of its own, Indopacetus. The debate - and the
mystery of this cetacean - continues. Local Names: Pacific Beaked Whale;
Indo-Pacific Beaked Whale. Description: Longman's Beaked Whale has
never been seen in the flesh. The skull of this cetacean has forward-pointing
teeth from the tip of the lower jaw, a characteristic shared with Cuvier's
Beaked Whale and the two Bottlenose Whales. About halfway along the rostrum's
length, there is a distinctive swelling. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Unknown. Food & Feeding:Unknown. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
The Northern Bottlenose Whale is only found in the
northern North Atlantic, entering the North Sea regularly and sometimes
straying as far south as the Azores or the Mediterranean. Classification: The genus Hyperoodon derives from the Greek hyperoe ('above') and odontos ('a tooth'), referring to a
skull with no exposed teeth in the lower jaw. The specific name, ampullatus, means 'flask' and refers to
the bottle-shaped head. Local Names: North Atlantic Bottlenose
Whale; Flathead; Bottlehead; Steephead; Bottlenosen or Andehval (Norway);
Butskopf (German or Dutch); Anarnaq (Greenland); Andhvaler (Iceland). Description: The head is the
predominant feature of this species; in females and young, it is rounded but
not particularly defined from the beak. In males, however, the front surface is
flat and it overhangs the beak, becoming more and more bluff with the onset of
old age. The bottle-like beak is moderately long, whilst the dorsal fin has a
prominant, pointed peak. There are two teeth on the lower jaw, and sometimes
another pair can be found just behind these. The body colour is brown to grey,
with the dorsal fin being darker and the melon and face lighter. The skin can
appear to have a mottled appearance, and in old males, the facial regions can
turn white. Males reach a maximum size of 9.8m, with females measuring about
8.7m in length. Recognition at sea: The
Northern Bottlenose Whale is the only beaked whale with a bulging melon in the
North Atlantic, and therefore should be easy to identify with its huge size. If
only the back and dorsal fin, however, are seen, then it is possible to confuse
females and young males with smaller beaked whales and maybe even the Minke
Whale. Habitat: Northern Bottlenose Whales do
not really become common until the water reaches a depth of 1,000m. They tend
to prefer waters in the temperature range of -2ºC to +17ºC, and occasionally
travel a few kilometres into pack ice fields. Food & Feeding:Squid are
a speciality prey to this large cetacean, with sea cucumbers, prawns, herrings,
starfish and deepsea fish. Akin to Sperm Whales, they also have a habit of
ingesting odd items, such as floating debris. Behaviour: Northern Bottlenose Whales
travel in units of between four and ten individuals, but more than one unit may
be in sight at any one time. In some areas, such as the sea around Iceland,
there is some segregation on the basis of sex and age; groups of mothers and
calves travel together, whereas old males and youngsters may travel alone. This
species' gregarious habits - such as approaching boats or staying near wounded
pod members - made them easy to kill. Longevity: Approximately 30-40 years. Estimated Current Population: Unknown,
but listed as vulnerable since 1976. The Influence of Man: The
Northern Bottlenose Whale was the victim of occasional hunting between 1850-70.
By the 1880s, Norway had a seperate fleet for the slaughter of Bottlenose
Whales alone, and in 1896 more than 3,330 whales were taken. However, by 1927
the Norwegian fleet had decreased to one ship, and there was little hunting of
these whales until the 1940s, when Norway began its open-sea fishery of Minke
Whales for human food. Killer Whales, Long-Finned Pilot Whales and Bottlenose
Whales were taken for animal feed, and nearly 6,000 of the latter were taken
between 1927-1973, mostly from the southern tip of Greenland. Norway stopped
its Bottlenose Whale fishery in 1973, mainly for economic reasons, and the
species was finally protected in 1977.
Shepherd's Beaked Whale is a little-known, and
little-seen, species. More than half the sightings and strandings have
originated from New Zealand, with the remainder coming from Australia,
Argentina, and Chile. Classification: This species' scientific
name refers to the Tasman Sea, where the first specimen was found, and its
collector, Mr G Shepherd, from New Zealand. Local Names: Tasman Whale; Tasman
Beaked Whale. Description: Shepherd's Beaked Whale,
though similar in shape, has a more pointed beak than other beaked whales. It
has a steep melon, and small flippers and dorsal fin. The body colour is dark
above and light underneath, with two dark diagonal bands sweeping from the
dorsal onto the lighter flanks and belly. The maximum recorded length for a
male is 7m, and for a female is 6.6m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: It is presumed that this species
lives away from coasts and is a deepsea diver. Food & Feeding: A
stomach analysis of a stranded Shepherd's Beaked Whale showed that this species
mainly feeds on deepsea fish. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
The Southern Bottlenose Whale is found mainly in the
Southern Hemisphere, but have been known to stray as far north as the waters
around Hawaii and Japan. They seem to summer around South Africa. Classification: The specific name, planifrons, means 'level-browed' and
refers to the fact that the upper jaw is much lower than that of the Northern
Bottlenose Whale. Local Names: Antarctic Bottlenose
Whale; Flathead. Description: As with the Northern
Bottlenose Whale, the head is the predominant feature of this southern species.
The melon is bulbous and overhangs the beak. There are a pair of grooves on the
throat, beneath the curve of the mouthline, and the prominant dorsal fin is set
well back. The body colour varies from dull yellow to deep brown, paling around
the head and underneath. Large individuals may be heavily scarred. Two teeth
are found at the tip of the lower jaw. The male Southern Bottlenose Whale
measures around 6.94m, while the female measures approximately 7.45m in length. Recognition at sea: Southern
Bottlenose Whales cannot be easily idenitifed at sea, except if they are
approached closely. At a distance, they can be mistaken for other Beaked
Whales, in particular Arnoux's Beaked Whale and Baird's Beaked Whale. However,
the large melon and varying body colour of this species should be enough to
identify the correct species. The difference in body colour can mean confusion
with Cuvier's Beaked Whale, but the latter has a shorter beak. Habitat: In the summer, Southern
Bottlenose Whales are regularly found within 110km of the Antarctic ice-edge.
They rarely inhabit waters with a depth of less than 200m. Food & Feeding: From the
stomach analysis of a stranded individual, it seems that squid is the primary
prey. Behaviour: Southern Bottlenose Whales have
been found in groups of as many as twenty-five, but mainly appear to travel in
units of less than ten. When chased, they sometimes raise the head clear of the
water to breathe. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: The
Southern Bottlenose Whale, unlike its northern cousin, has not been exploited.
This species inhabits the North Atlantic, with its centre
of distribution appearing to be the North Sea and most records coming from the
United Kingdom. It can be found as northernly as Norway and as southernly as
Madiera. The southernmost report of this cetacean was from the Gulf of Mexico. Classification: British watercolour artist
and naturalist named this species in 1804, four years after a skull had been
found in the Moray Firth, Scotland. It was later used by French biologist Paul
Gervais as the basis for the genus Mesoplodon. Local Names: North Sea Beaked Whale;
Atlanticheski Remzub or Remzub Sowerbi (Russia); Dauphin de Dale or Dauphin de
Havre (France); Flosser (Germany); Spidshvalen (Norway); Spitsdolfijn (the
Netherlands); Spitssnuitdolfijn (Denmark). Description: Adults are bluish grey or
slate coloured, with grey to white flanks and belly. Young are generally paler
and have less scars than the adults. Two teeth are found in the middle of the
lower jaw; these protrude outside the mouth in males but not in females or
young. The largest male recorded was 5.5m, with the largest female 5.05m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Sowerby's Beaked Whale occurs in
temperate and subarctic waters. Food & Feeding:It is
thought that squid and small fish are this cetacean's primary prey. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: This
species was taken by Newfoundland through the small cetaceans fisheries.
Stejneger's Beaked Whale is a little-known, and
little-seen, cetacean. It inhabits the North Pacific and most data about this
species has originated from Alaskan waters. It has also been recorded around
Japan. Classification: Although it was Frederick
True who first described this species in 1885, it was named after his
colleague, Leonard Stejneger, who found the first specimen. Local Names: Bering Sea Beaked Whale;
Sabre-Toothed Beaked Whale; North Pacific Beaked Whale. Description: Few animals have been seen
alive. Stejneger's Beaked Whale appears to be dark above and pale below, with
the head and neck areas being paler. In adult males two large erupted teeth
point forwards near the peak of the arched lower jaw. Both the largest male and
largest female specimens measured 5.25m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: Stejneger's Beaked Whale
inhabits cold temperate and subarctic waters. Food & Feeding:A stomach
analysis of an adult Stejneger's Beaked Whale shows that squid is the main food
source. Behaviour: Stejneger's Beaked Whales travel
in units of between five and fifteen individuals. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
Although there are more records about the Straptoothed
Whale than any other of the Mesoplodon
species, it is still a little-known and little-seen cetacean. It is curcumpolar
in the Southern Hemisphere, with most records originating from the Indian,
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, mainly around Australia and New Zealand. Classification: The Straptoothed Whale was
named by British biologist John Gray in 1865, after seeing drawings by the
South African Museum's curator, E. L. Layard, after whom it was eventually
named. The common name refers to the strange teeth found in adult males. Local Names: Layard's Beaked Whale;
Strap-Tooth Beaked Whale. Description: Adults are mainly black
with patches of grey and white that largely occur in the genital area, around
the front of the upper jaw, the lower jaw, throat and chest. There is a grey
blaze from the melon to almost two-thirds of the way to the dorsal. Teeth erupt
in males only, extending from the lower jaw to curve over the upper, preventing
it from opening fully. This does not, however, seem to interfere with feeding.
The longest female recorded measured 6.15m, while the longest male reached
5.84m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: The Straptoothed Whale occurs in
cold temperate waters. Food & Feeding:Unknown. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
True's Beaked Whale is found on the east coast of America and Canada
from Nova Scotia down to the Bahamas, as well as on the west coast of Scotland,
Ireland and France. Strandings have also been reported on the coast of South
Africa and Australia. Classification: Frederick True, the
American biologist, identified this species in 1913. Its specific name, mirus, means 'wonderful', and reflects
True's excitement at his discovery. Local Names: Wonderful Beaked Whale. Description: The True's Beaked Whale
from the Northern Hemisphere are grey fading to light grey on the undersides.
Adults have a dark ring around the eye and some areas of white. Southern
Hemisphere adults have a white area trailing backwards from the dorsal fin, a darker,
flecked belly, and the tip of the beak becomes white. Scratches and scars
appear on all animals, and a small tooth is exposed either side of the lower
jaw in males. The largest female documented measured 5.1m and weighed 1,394kg;
the largest male measured 5.3m. Recognition at sea: Unknown. Habitat: True's Beaked Whale tends to
prefer temperate waters. Food & Feeding: A
stomach analysis of an adult True's Beaked Whale shows that squid is the main
food source. Behaviour: Unknown. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown. Unidentified
Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon 'species A') This cetacean is known only from some thirty sketchy
sightings at sea. Classification: This species cannot be
named until a stranded animal can be examined and then identified. Local Names: None. Description: The Unidentified Beaked
Whale has a low, triangular dorsal fin and a long, wide beak. The melon not as
bulbous as in other species. Females and young are grey-brown in colour, fading
to pale grey on the undersides. The male has a broad white/cream swathe across
the body; the head, beak and 'neck' areas are reddish brown or tan in colour
while the dorsal region and flanks behind the light swathe are black-brown or
chocolate-brown in colour. It appears to measure between 5-5.5m in length. Recognition at sea: This
species is very difficult to distinguish at sea due to the little amount of
information that is available. The blow is not visible. Habitat: The Unidentified Beaked Whale
has so far only been spotted in deep, warm waters of the Eastern Tropical
Pacific. The sightings have originated from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. This species appears
to favour deep water. Food & Feeding: It is
thought that this species preys mainly on squid. Behaviour: The Unidentified Beaked Whale
has been seen in groups of two-eight individuals, travelling tightly at a
moderate pace. It appears to be lethagic at the surface, sluggish and does not
participate in any acrobatic activities such as breaching or lobtailing. Seems
to simply 'roll away' at the surface, disappearing easily and quickly. Longevity: Unknown. Estimated Current Population: Unknown. The Influence of Man: Unknown.
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[The Gray Whales]
[The Rorqual Whales] [The Right Whales] [The Sperm Whales] [The White Whales] [The Beaked Whales] [The Pilot & Killer Whales]
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