Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whales

Why in news?

A team of scientists has spotted the rare ginkgo-toothed beaked whales for the first time in the wild along the coast of Baja California in Mexico.

• Scientific name – Mesoplodon ginkgodens
• Common Name – Japanese Beaked Whale.
• Family – Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales).
• Discovery – 1^st described in 1958.
• Distribution – Tropical and temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific from Sri Lanka and India through Japan to California.
• Indian Records – May inhabit the waters around India - near Colombo, Sri Lanka (1957 specimen), other suspected capture off Trincomalee.

Key Features

• Diversity – It is one of 24 species of beaked whales, which are second most diverse group of cetaceans after dolphins.
• Size – The maximum length is believed to be about 5 m long.
• Weight – About estimated as 1.5 and 3.6 tons.
• Appearance –
  • They have a robust body, a distinct beak, and a small dorsal fin located far back on the body.
  • Long, pointed beak with no teeth in the upper jaw.
  • Adult males have one pair of large teeth shaped like ginkgo leaves (or onions).
  • Teeth are broad at the base (up to 10 cm) and pointed at the tip.
  • Two V-shaped throat grooves, typical of beaked whales.
• It is the deepest-diving mammals on Earth which spend most of their lives in deep oceans.

• Coloration – Dark grey/blue-grey/black dorsally, pale grey ventrally. Skin turns black rapidly after death.
• Diet – Primarily fish and squid.
• Behavior – It is rarely observed at sea; little is known about its social or diving habits.
• Conservation Status –
  • IUCN – Data Deficient.
  • CITES – Appendix II.

References

1. Indian Express | Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale
2. Marine Mammal | Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale