Stejneger's Beaked Whale
Encyclopedia
Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), sometimes known as the Bering Sea beaked whale or the Saber-toothed whale, is a poorly-known member of the genus Mesoplodon inhabiting the northern North Pacific Ocean. Leonhard Hess Stejneger
initially described the species in 1885 from a skull, and nothing more of the species was known for nearly a century. The late 1970s saw several strandings, but it was not until 1994 that the external appearance was described from fresh specimens. The most noteworthy characteristic of the males is the very large, saber-like teeth, hence the name.
and the Spade-toothed whale have longer teeth. The coloration is overall dark gray to black on the body with light coloration below, and around the head giving it a "helmeted" appearance. The coloration darkens with age, but females have a light pattern on the bottom of the flukes which become more apparent with age. Like most species, scars occur on the males (from other males) and cookie cutter shark bites are present on both sexes. The length is at least 5.25 meters (17 feet 6 inches) for males and 5.5 meters (18 feet) for females. They are likely around 2.1 to 2.3 meters long (7 to 8 feet) when born.
, Japan
and southern California
. They may migrate south in winter. As with most species of beaked whales, no population estimates have been made.
Leonhard Hess Stejneger
Leonhard Hess Stejneger was a Norwegian-born American ornithologist, herpetologist and zoologist. Stejneger specialized in vertebrate natural history studies. He gained his greatest reputation with reptiles and amphibians....
initially described the species in 1885 from a skull, and nothing more of the species was known for nearly a century. The late 1970s saw several strandings, but it was not until 1994 that the external appearance was described from fresh specimens. The most noteworthy characteristic of the males is the very large, saber-like teeth, hence the name.
Description
The body for this species is rather typical for a Mesoplodont, long and tapering at both ends. The beak of the whale is of medium length, and the mouthline forms an arch, though much smoother than other species. The teeth of the males are much larger than those of most other Mesoplodonts and point forwards and inwards right in front of the apex. Only Layard's beaked whaleLayard's Beaked Whale
The strap-toothed whale , also known as the Layard's beaked whale or the long-toothed whale is a large mesoplodont with some of the most bizarre teeth of any mammal...
and the Spade-toothed whale have longer teeth. The coloration is overall dark gray to black on the body with light coloration below, and around the head giving it a "helmeted" appearance. The coloration darkens with age, but females have a light pattern on the bottom of the flukes which become more apparent with age. Like most species, scars occur on the males (from other males) and cookie cutter shark bites are present on both sexes. The length is at least 5.25 meters (17 feet 6 inches) for males and 5.5 meters (18 feet) for females. They are likely around 2.1 to 2.3 meters long (7 to 8 feet) when born.
Population and distribution
This is the northernmost species of beaked whale in the Pacific Ocean, ranging up into the Bering Sea. They are distributed along both sides of the Pacific to Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They may migrate south in winter. As with most species of beaked whales, no population estimates have been made.
Behavior
The whales are typically found in groups of 3 to 4 and sometimes up to 15 animals in a very close group. The groups may have age and sex segregation. Adult males fight each other extensively, and some specimens have been found with healed jaw fractures.Conservation
This species has been occasionally hunted in Japan in the past, and occasionally been caught in driftnets. It is uncertain how much this affects the population.Sources
- Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Edited by William F. Perrin, Bernd Wursig, and J.G.M Thewissen. Academic Press, 2002. ISBN 0-12-551340-2
- 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. ISBN 0-7136-6334-0