Figure 85. — A dense-beaked whale stranded in northeastern Florida. This species reaches about 17 teet (5.2 ml and is black or charcoal gray on 

 the back, lighter gray on the sides, and frequently marked with grayish-white blotches and often extensively scarred. {Photo by W. A. Huck, 

 courtesy of Marmelarui of Florida. ) 



NORTH SEA BEAKED WHALE (T) 



Mesoplodon bidens (Sowerby 1804) 



Other Common Names 



Sowerby's beaked whale. 



Description 



North Sea beaked whales reach a length of at least 16.5 

 feet (5 m). The body is distinctly spindle-shaped, but 

 apparently more robust near midbody than that of the 

 dense beaked whale. The head is characterized by a 

 pronounced bulge in front of the blowhole, a slightly concave 

 forehead, and a moderate to long beak. The flippers are 

 relatively long (one-eighth to one-ninth the body length). The 

 dorsal fin is reportedly tall and variable in shape from 

 triangular to slightly falcate and is located just behind the 

 midpoint of the back. The flukes are not notched but are 

 sometimes quite concave on the rear margin. 



Adult North Sea beaked whales are dark charcoal gray on 

 the back with white spots overall. Young animals are also 

 dark charcoal gray on the back but are lighter on the belly and 

 are unspotted. The flukes of adults are dark above and below. 

 Those of young are dark above, lighter below. 



Natural History Notes 



North Sea beaked whales are known to feed on squid. 



May Be Confused With 



North Sea beaked whales are the most northerly species 

 of beaked whales. No other species is very likely to be 

 encountered in the same area. 



Distribution 



North Sea beaked whales have been reported in the 

 offshore waters from the latitude of New England north 

 perhaps to the pack ice. Individuals are occasionally drawn to 

 the coasts of Newfoundland in summer, presumably by 

 concentrations of squid, a known food item. 



Stranded Specimens 



The teeth of North Sea beaked whales are located about 

 midway between the tip of the snout and the corner of the 

 mouth. Except for this characteristic and their northerly 

 distribution, however, this species might easily be confused 

 with any other of the beaked whales species. 



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