- Sowerby's Beaked Whale
Taxobox
name = Sowerby's Beaked Whale
status = G3
status_system = TNC
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Sowerby's Beaked Whale (on
image2_width = 250px
image2_caption = Size comparison against an average human
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Cetacea
subordo =Odontoceti
familia =Ziphidae
genus = "Mesoplodon "
species = "M. bidens"
binomial = "Mesoplodon bidens"
binomial_authority = Sowerby, 1804
range_
range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Sowerby's Beaked Whale rangeSowerby's Beaked Whale ("Mesoplodon bidens"), also known as the North Atlantic/North Sea Beaked Whale, was the first
beaked whale to be described. Its name, "bidens", derives from the two teeth present in the jaw, now known to be a very common feature among thegenus .Physical description
Sowerby's Beaked Whale has a typical body shape for the genus, and is mainly distinguished by the male's dual teeth positioned far back in the mouth. The whale's beak is moderately long, and the melon is slightly convex. The colouration pattern is a grey with light
countershading on the bottom, and frequently hascookie cutter shark bites and scars from teeth (in males). The whale reaches 5metre s (16 ft) in females and 5.5 metres (18 ft) in males, with a weight of 1000-1300kilogram s (2200-2900 lb). The gestation period lasts for 12 months and the young are born at a length of 2.4 to 2.7 metres (8 to 9 ft) with a weight of around 185 kilograms (400 lb).Population and distribution
Sowerby's Beaked Whale ranges from
Nantucket toLabrador in the Western Atlantic and fromMadeira to theNorwegian Sea in the Eastern Atlantic. They typically range in waters 200 to 1,500 metres (650 to 5,000 ft) deep. No population estimates have been made.Behaviour
Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are reclusive creatures that stay away from ships and are rarely sighted. The whales are occasionally in groups of 8 to 10 individuals (males, females, and calves) and have been known to strand in groups as well. They are believed to primarily feed on
squid andmollusc s, butcod has also been found in their stomachs. They have been known to dive down at times approaching 30 minutes.Conservation
The species has been hunted infrequently by Norwegians, but such practices have long since been abandoned. There are some deaths due to entanglement in fishing gear, but it is unlikely to be very damaging to the species.
References
*
*"Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals". Edited by William F. Perrin, Bernd Wursig, and J.G.M Thewissen. Academic Press, 2002. ISBN 0-12-551340-2
*"Sea Mammals of the World". Written by Randall R. Reeves, Brent S. Steward, Phillip J. Clapham, and James A. Owell. A & C Black, London, 2002. ISBN 0-7136-6334-0External links
* [http://www.sci.tamucc.edu/tmmsn/29Species/sowerbysbeakedwhale.html Cetaceans of the World]
* [http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_bidens/m_bidens.htm CMS]
* [http://www.cetace.info/videos/Sowerby/videos_baleine_sowerby.php Sowerby's Beaked Whale movie, text in French]
* [http://www.wdcs.org Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)]
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