Mesoplodon europaeus
Gervais' Beaked Whale [+]

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Family: Hyperoodontidae
Genus: Mesoplodon
species: europaeus
+ITIS +WoRMS

Description & Behavior

The Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus (Gervais, 1855), also known as the Gulf Stream beaked whale, European beaked whale, and the Antillean beaked whale, is a small whale with a prominent beak and one large tooth in each lower jaw situated about 15 cm behind the tip. In males this large tooth protrudes from the mouth fitting into a groove in the skin of the upper lip. Females appear toothless as the tooth does not project beyond the gums. The body is a dark gray to black with a lighter ventral side. Average total length is 4.3 m but they can reach up to 5.45 m, body circumference immediately in front of flipper is 1.85 m, flukes are 91.5 cm wide, and the dorsal fin is 18.7 cm high. Female skulls are larger than the males.

This rare whale is difficult to spot even in relatively well-studied areas within its range. They are assumed to be deep divers that live in small groups or pairs. These whales have been found entangled in fishing nets.

Beaked Whales (Family Hyperoodontidae)
These medium-sized to moderately large whales have a single pair of grooves on the throat. There is a distinct snout, and often the few teeth present are visible only in adult males. They have a single nostril or blowhole. Beaked whales are generally slender with a small dorsal fin placed towards the rear on the back. The rear edge of the flukes usually lacks a well-defined notch. These whales are deep divers and are rarely seen. Many species are known only from a few specimens, and little is known about the life history and biology of the group. All members of this family, except Blainville's beaked whale, are difficult to distinguish from each other, and study by museum experts is usually necessary for identification.

World Range & Habitat

Gervais' beaked whales are found in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico from Texas and Florida to New York, Ireland, the English Channel, Canary Islands, south to Jamaica, Curaçao, Trinidad, Ascension Island, Mauritania, and Guinea Bissau. This geographical distribution has been inferred from strandings, therefore it may not provide a full representation of the range of this species. Recent findings have indicated a larger distribution in the temperate waters of the North Atlantic along the eastern coast of central America and in the Gulf stream. They are the most commonly stranded beaked whale in the Gulf of Mexico with several strandings on Texas beaches known. Although there are no population estimates for these whales, they are thought to be rare. They are believed to inhabit deep waters close to shore but little information is available on movements.

» GBIF occurrence data in Google Earth [Tips] | Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) (World Distribution) [about]

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

Gervais' beaked whales are known to prey on squid and fish.

Life History

Little is known about these whales. Strandings are believed to be associated with calving, which likely occurs in shallow waters. Specific data on the reproductive habits are not available.

Conservation Status/Additional Comments

From 1992 to 1998 a total of 49 beaked whales were found stranded along the US Atlantic coast between Florida and Massachusetts, 28 of which were identified as Gervais' beaked whales. In the mid to late 1980s several unusual mass strandings of beaked whales, including also Gervais' beaked whales, were associated with naval activities in the Canary Islands, and again in September 2002 during a naval NATO maneuver involving low frequency sonar around the Canaries.