SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ziphius cavirostris

DISCOVERED: Cuvier, 1823

COMMON NAME: Cuvier's Beaked Whale, Goose-beaked Whale, Goosebeak Whale

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:

Worldwide distribution in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters
One of the most worldly of beaked whales, including a range in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
Not found only in polar waters
Found near many oceanic islands and in enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean and the Sea of Japan
No migrations are known

DESCRIPTION:

"Goose beak" head shape
Short, upturned beak
Small head-pale
Long, robust body
Indentation behind blowhole
2 small teeth just visible when mouth is closed
Long and circular scars
Small, falcate dorsal fin
Swirling patterns in skin
Upper side of old males can be almost white in front of dorsal fin
Color varies according to location, sex, or age- older often are almost white
Body vaires from tan, pale brown, or cream to blue-gray or purplish black
Broad flukes- width up to one-quarter of body length

NATURAL HISTORY:

HABITAT:

Found close to mainland shores, except in submarine canyons or in areas where the continental shelf is narrow and coastal waters are deep

FOOD & FEEDING:

Most prey are either open ocean, mesopelagic, or deep-water benthic organisms
In waters less than 1,000m deep mainly consume squid
In deep waters, fish most abundant prey

LIFE CYCLE:

Reach sexual maturity- 11 growth layer groups (GLGs) 5.26 m long (males) 5.12 m long (females)
Live up to- 47 GLGs (males) and 28 GLGs (females)

BEHAVIOR:

Lurches through water, exposing head when swimming fast
Usually alone or in small groups
Tends to avoid boats- but occasionally inquisitive and approachable
Breaching observed, though rare
Blow directed slightly forward and to left but is inconspicuous
Typical length of dive - 20 to 40 minutes, with 2 to 3 blows 10 to 20 seconds apart in between
Back arched steeply before a deep dive and may lift flukes above the surface
Found stranded more than any other beaked whales

WORLD POPULATION:

No abundance estimates for any region
Most frequent of the beaked whales as to number of strandings
Most frequently sighted medium sized cetacean in the eastern tropical Pacific

HUMAN INFLUENCES:

Formerly taken in Japan by small-type whaling operations- largely ceased, but occasional animal may still be caught
Few taken in former small cetacean fishery off the Lesser Antilles island of St. Vincent
No known systematic fisheries at present
May be taken incidentally in offshore fisheries, but little available information on such occurrances
Meat was used for human food in Japan and the Lesser Antilles
Stranded specimens were used for dog and fox food in the Commander