PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Ziphiidae
GENUS: Mesoplodon
SPECIES: grayi
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Temperate waters of southern hemisphere far offshore
LENGTH (maximum): 17-19 Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): 2,400 lb
RELATIVE SPECIES: Andrew’s, Hector’s, Blainville’s, Ginko-toothed, True’s, Sharp tooth whales.
OTHER NAMES: Scamperdown Whale
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Strap-toothed whale, Southern Bottlenose Whale, Arnoux’s beaked whale,
PREDATORS: Humans
THREATS: Ship strikes
DIET: Squid
MANNER OF FEEDING: Suctioning fish and squid, then grasping with upper jaw teeth
BEHAVIOR: Travels in pods of 5-6. Social, compared to other beaked whales. Deep diving and elusive.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- Mass strandings are common, sometimes over 20 individuals.
- Unique coloring, all dark with a white beak make it distinguishable among other beaked whales.
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_grayi/m_grayi.htm
-TSF-
