PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Ziphiidae
GENUS: Mesoplodon
SPECIES: peruvianus
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Pacific coast along California, Mexico and South America
LENGTH (maximum): 13Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): unknown
RELATIVE SPECIES: Most other beaked whales
OTHER NAMES: Lesser Beaked Whale, Peruvian Beaked Whale
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Cuviers beaked whale, Blainville’s beaked whale, Sperm, Blue, Fin, Sei, Brydes, Humpback
THREATS: Driftnets, vessel noise
DIET: Fish and squid
MANNER OF FEEDING: Unknown
BEHAVIOR: Very little is known. They are usually seen in small pods.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Probably the smallest beaked whale.
- Scientists have no idea if this species is abundant or is depleting
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/13251/0
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_peruvianus/m_peruvianus.htm
-TSF-
