Drawing of a Hectors Beaked Whale.Mesoplodon hectori © Wurtz-Artescienza. The common name of the Strap-toothed Whale refers to the unusual strap-like teeth of adult males. Beaked whales commonly dive to depths of 3,300 feet. In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. While cranial anatomy and tooth morphology are useful, the distinguishing features may apply only to adults. 2002. This whale is named after Sir James Hector, a founder of the colonial museum in Wellington, New Zealand. Data on the size of this species has been collected primarily from strandings. However, the fact that the only two sightings of these whales was off the Californian coastline (that is, in the Northern Hemisphere) raises some questions. The specimen's stomach from Argentina had many small crystalline lenses in the first and fourth stomachs. Please note that the content of newsletters may not be suitable for children. Reaching a maximum length around 4.2 m (1.9 m when born), and with an estimated weight around 1 tonne (1.032 tons), Hector's is one of the smallest of the beaked whales. Cuvier's Beaked Whale has a wide distribution and has been observed at sea more often than many other beaked whale species. Registered Charity (England and Wales) No. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer! & Owell, James A. In. (1993): Mead, James G. (1993): The systematic importance of stomach anatomy in beaked whales. Four animals stranded in southern California, and two sightings in the area in the 1970s, were also thought to represent this species. This whale is named after Sir James Hector, a founder of the colonial museum in Wellington, New Zealand. Hector’s beaked whale can be found swimming throughout most of the southern hemisphere in cool waters that are between 35 – 55 degrees south of the equator. Name : Hector's Beaked Whale Scientific Name : Mesoplodon hectori Class : Mammalia (Type) - Beaked whale Family : Ziphiidae Order : Cetacea (suborder) - Odontoceti Shape : Smallish head, slight melon with distinctive crescent-shaped blowhole. The English taxonomist John Edward Gray first named the species Berardius hectori in 1871, based on a specimen collected in Titahi Bay, New Zealand in January, 1866. They also have short flippers and a … If however this is normal behaviour then it seems strange that there have not been more sightings, giving rise to the speculation that Hector’s beaked whales may be naturally rare. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood, and M.A. The small dorsal fin usually has a rounded tip and a slightly concave trailing edge. This species of beaked whale was named in 1871 after the James Hector, the curator of the Wellington Museum in New Zealand (now the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa). Visiting the Australian Museum safely during COVID-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collection, Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), Natural Sciences research and collections, Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station, 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes finalists, Become a volunteer at the Australian Museum. Hectorâs Beaked Whales have only two teeth, both in their lower jaw. The melon, which is not very prominent, slopes quite steeply to the short beak. Hector's beaked whale - WikiMili, The Free Ency In general it is difficult to distinguish between beaked whales in the field. Other names: Skew-beaked whale, New Zealand beaked whale. Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures. & McQuire, J.A. — Adult Hector’s Beaked Whales reach a length of about four metres (or 14 feet) and a weight of between one and two tonnes. The following year, 1872, English anatomist William Henry Flower placed it in the genus Mesoplodon, while in 1873, Scottish scientist James Hector assigned the same specimen to the species M. knoxi. The species remained in the genus Mesoplodon until 1962, when Charles McCann, a vertebrate zoologist at the Dominion Museum in Welli… (Published descriptions of the colour pattern in this species are mainly based on specimens from California that are now known to be a different species.) Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden. Jefferson, T.A. Blainville's Beaked Whales are brownish or blue-grey dorsally, and paler ventrally, with dark eye patches and often have white circular scars, perhaps caused by cookie-cutter sharks. The two pectoral fins are short and straight. A world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. Hector’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon hectori) December 19, 2016 Get your copy of “Albert the Orca Teaches Echolocation to The Super Fins” beginning March 2017 at TheSuperFins.com. If you would like to supply images of Hector's beaked whales for our species guide please contact us. [12] The following year, 1872, English anatomist William Henry Flower placed it in the genus Mesoplodon, while in 1873, Scottish scientist James Hector assigned the same specimen to the species M. knoxi. [2] This discovery was puzzling, because although the suspected range of Ziphius cavirostris was met by the stranding location, M. Hectori was thought to be restricted solely to the Southern Hemisphere. Some data supposedly referring to this species, especially juveniles and males, turned out to be based on the misidentified specimens of Perrin's beaked whale - especially since the adult male of Hector's beaked whale was only more recently described. Support WDC by shopping for yourself or a friend. About whales & dolphins. This remains the most northerly record for this species. Hector’s beaked whales, Mesoplodon hectori (Gray, 1871), aka New Zealand beaked whales and skew-beaked whales, are rare deep-water whales colored dark gray to brown on their dorsal (upper) sides and pale gray on their ventral (under) sides. Ross established it as a separate species. The specimen was found to have a pair of large fangs not seen among the species typical dentition, especially for females, who typically have none. In this section, explore all the different ways you can be a part of the Museum's groundbreaking research, as well as come face-to-face with our dedicated staff. (2002): This page was last edited on 22 October 2020, at 12:32. Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins.
Small, triangular teeth set near tip of jaw may have stalked barnacles attached (which only erupt in males) may be distinctive. Since 1998, The MarineBio Conservation Society has been a nonprofit volunteer marine conservation and science education group working online together to educate the world about ocean life, marine biology, marine conservation, and a sea ethic. However, little is known about the specific ecological role Mesoplodon hectori plays in its marine ecosystem. You have reached the end of the main content. They have small, rounded dorsal fins, the front of which angles sharply toward their body. Females also have these teeth, but they remain hidden. [13], With abundant and easily observable species, the use of synapomorphic characters to assign observed individuals to a particular species, is a reasonably effective approach to taxonomy, at least in its rudimentary phase. Diet You have reached the end of the page. If you would like to supply images of Hector's beaked whales for our species guide please contact us. Hector's beaked whale is covered by the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region (Pacific Cetaceans MOU).[21]. Australian Museum Research Institute scientist Dr Sandy Ingleby describes the evolving art of cleaning a whale carcass. Dalebout, M. L., Mead, J. G., Baker, C. S., Baker, A. N., and van Helden, A. L. 2002. The head of a Hector’s beaked whale is quite unique, as they have dark patches around the eyes and a relatively short, well defined beak which is pale grey or white in colour. ~ Ocean Biogeographic Information System ~ PLOS ~ SIRIS ~ Tree of Life Web Project ~ UNEP-WCMC Species Database ~ WoRMS, Search for Hector's Beaked Whales @Flickr ~ Google ~ Picsearch ~ Wikipedia ~ YouTube. Insufficient data exists regarding whether or not these whales migrate and their overall population size remains unknown as observations of this spe… For more information, please go to: http://uk.whales.org/. In general it is difficult to distinguish between beaked whales in the field. Research Mesoplodon hectori @Barcode of Life ~ BioOne ~ Biodiversity Heritage Library ~ CITES ~ Cornell Macaulay Library ~ Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) ~ ESA Online Journals ~ FishBase ~ Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department ~ GBIF ~ Google Scholar ~ ITIS ~ IUCN RedList (Threatened Status) ~ Marine Species Identification Portal ~ NCBI (PubMed, GenBank, etc.) They have distinct snouts, and often the few teeth present are visible only in adult males. [1] Hector's beaked whales are dark greyish-brown dorsally, paler ventrally. Beaked whale specialist Joseph Curtis Moore (1968) and J. G. B. Ross (1970) contested this designation, arguing that M. hectori was a valid species. Like other beaked whales and other deep divers, they are thought to feed primarily on squid, although some smaller fish species may also be taken. Recently, molecular genetic techniques have been applied to the identification of beaked whales. They also sport a crescent-shaped blowhole. Known for its very small head, the Hectorâs Beaked Whale actually has the smallest skull of any of the Mesoplodons. In the only two sightings of this whale, the animal approached the boat, curiously examining it and its passengers. Small, triangular teeth set near tip of jaw may have stalked barnacles attached (which only erupt in males) may be distinctive.