Andrews' beaked whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini), sometimes known as the deep-crest beaked whale or splay-toothed whale, is one of the least known members of a poorly known genus. The species has never been observed in the wild, and is known only from specimens washed up on beaches.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1908 by the American scientist Roy Chapman Andrews from a specimen collected at New Brighton Beach, Canterbury Province, New Zealand, in 1904. He named it in honor of George S. Bowdoin, a donor and trustee to the American Museum of Natural History.

Description

thumb|3d model of skeleton

Andrews' beaked whale is a medium-sized beaked whale, with males typically reaching lengths of 3.4 m (11.2 ft) to 4.4 m (14.4 ft) and females 3.7 m (12.1 ft) to 4.9 m (16.1 ft). Calves are around 2.2 m (7.2 ft). Weight is uncomfirmed, however mesoplodonts of similar sizes are recorded at 1-1.5 t. It has a robust, spindle-shaped body, low melon, and short, thick beak with a pair of large, flattened tusks that only erupt from the arched lower jaw in adult males. The teeth of females remain unerupted in the less-arched jawline.

Adult males are dark brown or black with a contrasting pale lower jaw and rostrum tip, while females are bluish-gray to slate grey in the dorsal surface, fading to pale sides and underside and also share the pale to whitish lower jaw and rostrum tip. Both sexes may have a small, light or pale patch in front of the eye.

The calving season may be during summer and autumn off New Zealand. Otherwise, any behavior is completely unknown.

Predators

The only animals that may hunt this species are killer whales and large sharks. Both sexes are typically covered in small, pale circular or oval healed wounds from cookiecutter sharks, sometimes concentrated around the genitals and sides.

Specimens

thumb|left|Skeleton in the [[Natural History Museum of Pisa]]

  • MNZ MM002133, collected Spirits Bay, Northland, New Zealand 1992

See also

  • List of cetaceans

References

  • Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Edited by William F. Perrin, Bernd Wursig, and J.G.M Thewissen. Academic Press, 2002.
  • 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.
  • Factsheets
  • Cetaceans of the World
  • CMS
  • Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)