Perrin's Beaked Whale
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| Mesoplodon perrini Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker, and van Helding, 2002 |
Perrin's Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon perrini) is the newest species of Beaked Whale to be described. It was first found in May 1975 off the coast of California, with four more specimens showing up until September 1997. They were initially identified as Hector's Beaked Whale, except for the most recent which was assumed to be a Cuvier's Beaked Whale. Recent genetic tests have revealed the five specimens to belong to a distinct species. Sightings of a creature off California in the 1970s which were assumed to be Hector's Beaked Whale probably also belong to this species. Despite the superficial similarities to Hector's Beaked Whale, this species is closely related to the Pygmy Beaked Whale, the next most recently described species.
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[edit] Physical description
Perrin's Beaked Whale has a fairly typical body shape for a Mesoplodont with a small head, long body, and deep tail. The rostrum of this whale is shorter than ever other Mesoplodont other than Hector's Beaked Whale and the Pygmy Beaked Whale. The mouthline of this species is strait, and the melon is rather bulbous. The teeth on this species are fairly large and towards the end of the mouth. Throat grooves are present on this species. The coloration is dark gray above and white below in a male specimen, with gray patches near the umbilicus and the bottom of the flukes. The coloration of females is not known, since the only specimen was rather decomposed. Calves are light to dark gray on top, and white below, including the lower jaw and throat. There is a dark "mask" on the head as well. Scars from fighting are present on this species, cookie cutter shark bites, as well as numerous types of barnacles. The mature male specimen was 3.9 meters in length (13 feet) and the female was 4.4 meters (14 feet 8 inches) in length
[edit] Population and distribution
This species has only been found of the coast of California between San Diego and Monterey. It likely lives elsewhere, but evidence is lacking. No population estimate has been made.
[edit] Behavior
The males of this species engages in fights like most other Mesoplodonts.
[edit] Conservation
This species is too data deficient to classify.
[edit] References
- . Dalebout, Merel L; Mead, James G.; Baker, C. Scott; Baker, Alan N. & van Helden, Anton L. (2002): A New Species of Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon perrini sp. n. (Cetacea: Ziphiidae), Discovered Through Phylogenic Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Sequences. Marine Mammal Science 18(3): 577-608. PDF fulltext
