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Mesoplodon mirus (True's beaked whale)

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Image credit: Garth Mix, GMIX Designs

Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Scientific Name Mesoplodon mirus
Taxonomic Rank Species
Original Description True, 1913
Scientific Synonyms (since 1950)
None.
Common Name
True's beaked whale
All Common Names English: True's beaked whale
Taxonomic Parents Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Chordata
    Subphylum: Vertebrata
      Class: Mammalia
        Subclass: Theria
          Infraclass: Eutheria
            Order: Cetacea
              Suborder: Odontoceti
                Family: Ziphiidae
                  Genus: Mesoplodon
Taxonomic Children
Taxonomic # 180508
Taxonomic data is courtesy of the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Physical Description / Field Identification
In morphology and coloration, True's beaked whales are not known to differ substantially from other mesoplodonts, although they have a slightly bulging forehead and prominent beak.

These beaked whales are characterized by the position of the mandibular teeth at the very tip of the lower jaw. The teeth are oval in cross-section, lean forward, and are visible outside the closed mouth of adult males.

Both sexes are known to reach lengths of slightly over 5 m. Newborns are probably between 2 and 2.5 m. Weights of up to 1400 kg have been recorded.

Can be Confused With
At sea, True's beaked whales are difficult to distinguish from other mesoplodonts. The only other species in which males have oval teeth at the tip of the lower jaw is Longman's beaked whale. However, the latter species is generally much larger and the forehead is more steeply-rising than in True’s beaked whale.

Distribution
True's beaked whales are known only from strandings in Great Britain, from Florida to Nova Scotia in the North Atlantic, and from southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean.
Links to Distribution Map at Sea Around Us Project

Map of OBIS-SEAMAP Data Points

Existing observations across multiple datasets within OBIS-SEAMAP are indicated with red points.
Species distributions (pink background polygon if present) were digitized by Kristin Kaschner as part of the Sea Around Us Project predominantly from Jefferson et al (1993).

Reference
Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood, and M.A. Webber. 1993. FAO species identification guide. Marine mammals of the world. Rome, FAO. 1993.320. p. 587 figs.

Ecology and Behavior
There is almost no information available on the natural history of this species of beaked whale.

Feeding and Prey
Stranded animals have had squid (Loligo sp.) in their stomachs.

Threats and Status
Almost no information is available on the threats and status of this species. Data Deficient (IUCN); Not Listed (ESA).

References

DALEBOUT, M. L. 2002. Species identity, genetic diversity, and molecular systematic relationships among the Ziphiidae (beaked whales). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

HOUSTON, J. 1990. Status of True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 104:135-137.

MEAD, J. G. 1989. Beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon. Pp. 349-430 in S. H. Ridgway and R. Harrison, eds. Handbook of marine mammals, Vol. 4 River dolphins and the larger toothed whales. Academic Press.

PITMAN, R. L. 2002. Mesoplodont whales Mesoplodon spp. Pp. 738-742 in W. F. Perrin, B. Würsig and J. G. M. Thewissen, eds. Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Academic Press.

Relevant OBIS-SEAMAP Datasets (# sets: 1)
Marine Mammal Survey PE 95-02

To get custom statistics or download the results as a CSV file, go to Observation Query & Summary
 
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