Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Map represents approximate range of species.

· Cuvier's beaked whales are one of the most frequently sighted species of beaked whales in the world. · Like other beaked whales, Cuvier's beaked whales are skittish and will avoid ships, including research vessels. · Of all beaked whale species, Cuvier's beaked whale probably has the most extensive range and distribution. · Cuvier's beaked whales are the most commonly stranded beaked whale along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

Cuvier's beaked whales have a cosmopolitan distribution and can be found in most oceans and seas worldwide. Most of the distribution information is based on stranding records. The seasonality and migration patterns of this species are not known. Recent genetic diversity studies indicate that Cuvier's beaked whales generally remain in their "home" ocean basins, which may create well-defined populations. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are known to occur near the Aleutian Islands, Bay of Biscay, British Columbia, Canada, Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, Massachusetts, Mediterranean Sea and the Shetlands. In the Southern Hemisphere, they are known to occur near New Zealand, South Africa, and Tierra del Fuego. They have also stranded in tropical environments such as the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the Galapagos Islands.

Head Shape The short, thick rostrum is poorly defined from the steeply sloping melon. The melon in Ziphius is relatively more bulbous than in Mesoplodon, but less so than Hyperoodon. The mouthline first sweeps downward from the rostral tip, then turns upwards toward the eye. Coloration Adult males are generally slate gray over most of the body with a distinctive white head. The white coloration continues posteriorly along the dorsum. Adult female coloration appears more variable, ranging from dark gray to a reddish brown. The skin on the head of females is lighter, but does not contrast as dramatically as in males. Usually there are some distinctive patterns of dark pigment on the head of adult females. The eye is typically dark and there is a highly variable pair of dark crescents surrounding the eye, one anterior, and one posterior. Young animals are described as black or dark bluish black and lighter below. Light oval patches and linear marks are common on the skin. Oval scars are attributed to lampreys or cookie-cutter sharks. Size Adult body length ranges between 5 to 7 m. Recorded maximum body length for adult males and females is 6.7 m, and 7.0 m, respectively. Length at birth is approximately 2.7 m. Most Likely Confused With: Hyperoodon ampullatus Hyperoodon planifrons Mesoplodon mirus

Cuvier's beaked whales can be found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. They have occasionally been sighted in "boreal" waters as well. They prefer deep "pelagic" waters (usually greater than 3,300 ft (1,000 m) of the continental slope and edge, as well as around steep underwater geologic features like banks, seamounts and submarine canyons. Recent surveys suggest that beaked whales, like this species, may favor oceanographic features such as currents, current boundaries, and core ring features.

For management purposes, Cuvier's beaked whales inhabiting U.S. waters have been divided into five stocks: the Alaska Stock, the California/Oregon/Washington stock, the Hawaiian stock, the Northern Gulf of Mexico stock and the Western North Atlantic stock. Reliable abundance estimates are unavailable for the Alaska stock. The estimated population of the Hawaiian stock is 7,000-13,000, the California/Oregon/Washington stock is 1,100-1,900, and the northern Gulf of Mexico stock is 65-95 animals. In the Western North Atlantic, the abundance estimate for undifferentiated beaked whales, which includes Cuvier's beaked whales, is 2,100-3,500 animals. Beaked whales are often lumped together in stock estimates due to their cryptic nature and difficulty of sighting and identifying them at sea. Estimates do not include a correction factor for submerged animals (with long dive times), which may be substantial and underestimate actual abundance. The Northern Gulf of Mexico and Western North Atlantic stocks are considered "strategic" because of uncertainty regarding stock size and evidence of human induced mortality and serious injury associated with acoustic activities. Other abundance estimates for Cuvier's beaked whales includes 20,000 in the eastern tropical Pacific and 90,000 in the eastern North Pacific. There are insufficient data to determine the population trends for this species.

Diagnostic features of the skull and mandible On the vertex of the dorsal skull the nasal bone extends forward of the premaxillary and frontal bones. Separates from Indopacetus, Mesoplodon, and Tasmacetus. When the posterior aspect of the skull is viewed from a point aligned with the long axis of the rostrum, the profile of the vertex is completely occluded by the supraoccipital , or so little of the vertex shows that the profile of descending sides of the vertex are not visible. Separates from Berardius. Adult males have a sexually dimorphic feature, the prenarial basin found on the dorsal aspect of the skull just anterior to the external bony nares. This feature is the result of resorption of bone from the premaxillaries, maxillaries, and vomer.

Weight: 4,000-6,800 lbs (1,845-3,090 kg) Length: 15-23 ft (4.5-7 m) Appearance: a round and robust dark gray to a reddish-brown body, with a triangular "falcate" dorsal fin and an indistinct "beak" Lifespan: 60 years Diet: mostly squid and octopus, also eats fish and crustaceans Behavior: found individually or in small groups from 2-12 animals; they are deep divers Cuvier's beaked whales, sometimes called "goose-beaked whales," are members of the beaked whale family (Ziphiidae). They can reach lengths of about 15-23 ft (4.5-7 m) and weigh 4,000-6,800 lbs (1,845-3,090 kg). There is no significant "sexual dimorphism" in regards to body size for this species. These medium-size whales have a round and robust body, with a triangular "falcate" dorsal fin located far down the animal's back. The head is a sloping concave-shape with no obvious "melon", an indistinct beak, and a large slit-like blowhole. The jaw-line is slightly upturned giving the whale a "smiling" appearance. The profile of the head is sometimes described as goose-like. Like other beaked whale species, males have two small cone-shaped teeth erupting out of the tip of the bottom jaw that are often used for fighting. A Cuvier's beaked whale's body has variable coloration that ranges from dark gray to a reddish-brown, with a paler counter-shaded underside. The reddish-brown coloration is caused by the infestation of microscopic "diatoms" and algae. The body is often covered with linear scratches and oval-shaped scars. As this species grows older, they become paler, develop a more significant indentation on the top of the head and accumulate more scarring (especially males). There is a whitish coloration on the face and dark-colored patch around the eye. Many species of beaked whales (especially those in the genus Mesoplodon) are very difficult to distinguish from one another (even when dead). At sea, they are challenging to observe and identify to the species level due to their cryptic, skittish behavior, a low profile, and a small, inconspicuous blow at the waters surface; therefore, much of the available characterization for beaked whales is to genus level only. Uncertainty regarding species identification of beaked whales often exists because of a lack of easily discernable or distinct physical characteristics. When at the surface, Cuvier's beaked whales rarely breach or display other active behavior. Their small blow is about 3 ft (1 m) tall, angled slightly forward and to the left, and occurs in 20-30 second intervals, often making it barely visible to observers. As they swim, their head and body will roll high out of the water. When preparing for a deep, vertical dive, they may arch their back more than normal and usually display their flukes. These whales are typically found individually or in small groups from 2-12 animals, but groups of up to 25 animals have been reported. Lone animals are most likely males. Like other beaked whales, they are deep divers. Cuvier's beaked whales are capable of diving up to at least 3,300 ft (1,000 m) for 20-40 minutes to opportunistically feed on mostly cephalopods (e.g., squid and octopus) and sometimes fish and crustaceans. A pair of ventral throat grooves help to create a vacuum within their mouths, allowing the whales to suck in their targeted prey. Cuvier's beaked whales reach sexual maturity at lengths of 18-20 ft (5.5-6.1 m) for males and 20 ft (6.1 m) for females, which is usually between 7-11 years of age. Breeding and calving can apparently occur year round, but often during the spring. After a year-long gestation period, females give birth to a single calf every 2-3 years. Newborn calves, dark black or blue in coloration, are about 6.5-9 ft (2-2.7 m) long and weigh 550-660 lbs (250-300 kg). They have an estimated lifespan of up to 60 years.

Distributed over most oceans and most seas, except for high polar waters. Found in waters deeper than 1000 m. Ziphius has the widest distribution of any beaked whale species.

Entanglement in fishing gear Ship strikes Possible trauma from ocean noise, may be sensitive to underwater sounds and anthropogenic noise strandings of this species in the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Canary Islands, Gulf of California and Mediterranean Sea have been associated with active sonar and seismic activities Anthropogenic noise levels in the world's oceans are an increasing habitat concern, particularly for deep-diving cetaceans like Cuvier's beaked whales that use sound to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean. Have been taken in fisheries in the Caribbean, Chile, Indonesia, Peru and Taiwan. Have been incidentally taken in Japanese whaling operations targeting Baird's beaked whales

Tooth position Teeth are located at the apex of the mandible and are directly anteriorally and dorsally. Occasionally there are small vestigial teeth in the gums or a second pair of slightly enlarged teeth posterior to the apical pair. Tooth exposure Teeth erupt in adult males and extend beyond the rostrum. Teeth do not erupt in females or juveniles. Tooth shape Teeth are conical and sharply pointed.