Andrews' Beaked Whale
Mesoplodon bowdoini

Other Names: Splay-toothed Beaked Whale, Bowdoin's Beaked Whale, Deepcrest Beaked Whale

Habitat: Offshore

Status: Unknown

Population: Unknown

Threats: Unknown

Group Size: Unknown

Fin Position: Far behind center

Newborns: 5 ¼ ft (1.6 m), Unknown weight

Adults: c.13 ¼-15 ½ ft (4-4.7 m), 1-1.5 tons

Diet: Squid or octopus

Teeth: 0 on top row, 2 on bottom row

Description

Dorsal fin:

- pointed tip
- small dorsal fin
- may have rounded tip
- concave trailing edge

Flukes:

- dark blue-black upper sides and undersides
- frilled trailing edges
- no notch in flukes, but slight prominence

Flippers:

- small, slightly paddle-shaped flippers

Head:

- strongly arched mouth line
- fairly short, thick beak with visible teeth
- white tip of beak and lower jaw
- slight hint of melon
- indentation at blowhole

Male Jawbone:

- teeth set back about 8 in (20 cm) from tip of jaw
- large, distinctive teeth set in slightly raised sockets
- teeth are wide and flat

Other characteristics:

- white scratches and scars
- dark blue-black body may have brownish hue
- slender tail stock
- spindle-shaped body

Behavior

- almost nothing known about behavior
- lack of sightings in the wild suggests it is unobtrusive or lives away from well-studied areas
- its close relationship with Hubbs' Beaked Whale suggests the two animals may have similar behavior patterns
- body scarring indicates fighting between males

Distribution

- cool temperate waters of Australasia, in New Zealand and along the southern coast of Australia
- too few records to be sure about distribution
- known only from strandings along the southern coast of Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand
- Identification of a single specimen found on Kerguelen Island, in the extreme southern Indian Ocean, in 1973 is doubted by some experts, so extension of range outside Australasian region is uncertain
- several other records of this species later proved to be misidentifications; conversely, genuine specimens of Andrews' Beaked Whale may not have been recognized as such because of identification problems


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This page was created by:Candice Orca Mottet