PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Ziphiidae
GENUS: Mesoplodon
SPECIES: layardii
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Cool temperate waters of southern hemisphere.
LENGTH (maximum): 19Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 2,200-2,900 pounds
RELATIVE SPECIES: Arnoux, Andrew’s, Gray’s, Hector’s, Blainville’s,
OTHER NAMES: Layard’s Beaked Whale
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Blainville, Gray’s, Cuvier’s, Arnoux’s
PREDATORS: Unknown
THREATS: Unknown
DIET: Squid
MANNER OF FEEDING: They have to eat slender squid because their teeth prevent them from opening their mouths wide.
BEHAVIOR: Likes to bask on the surface, dives down without creating a ripple in the water. Rarely lifts fluke out of the water.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Most easily distinguishable out of all the beaked whales because of the dark mask on its face.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_layardii/m_layardii.htm
-TSF-
