True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus)
Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Morvan Barnes | Refereed by | Admin |
Authority | True, 1913 | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
Summary
Description
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland
Expected to occur west of the Outer Hebrides and west of Ireland.Global distribution
-Habitat
True's beaked whale is an oceanic species that may be seen at the surface but little is known on what depth they may dive to.Depth range
-Identifying features
- Up to 5.3 m in length.
- Small dorsal fin two-thirds down the body.
- Distinct, moderately long beak.
- Small head with shallow rising and smoothly bulging forehead.
- Pair of V-shaped throat grooves.
- Mouthline curved down at the rear.
- Dark marking around the eyes.
- Teeth at front of the mouth.
Additional information
True's beaked whale may be confused with Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens but can be recognised by its bulging but smooth forehead and its slightly shorter beak. Little is known about the aggregational behaviour of True's beaked whales but it is not expected to differ from similar species such as Mesoplodon bidens (Kinze, 2002).Listed by
Bibliography
Bruyns, W.F.J.M., 1971. Field guide of whales and dolphins. Amsterdam: Publishing Company Tors.
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
Jefferson, T.A., Leatherwood, S. & Webber, M.A., 1994. FAO species identification guide. Marine mammals of the world. Rome: United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Kinze, C. C., 2002. Photographic Guide to the Marine Mammals of the North Atlantic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Reid. J.B., Evans. P.G.H., Northridge. S.P. (ed.), 2003. Atlas of Cetacean Distribution in North-west European Waters. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Datasets
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2024. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2024-10-10
Citation
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 02/06/2008