Tasman Beaked Whale

The Sierra Handbook of Whales and Dolphins

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Tasman Beaked Whale, or Tasmacetus shepherdi, is limited to temperate waters of the southern hemisphere. Their upper and lower jaws are lined with small, conical teeth. A live Tasman beaked whale has yet to be observed and indetified. Their lengths range from approximately 6 to 7 meters. They have bodies similar to other ziphiids. The forehead is rounded, sharp set off from a long, narrow beak. The line of the mouth is straight and the throat has the usual pair of V-shaped creases. Their flippers are narrow and short. Since these animals haven't been observed alive, little is known about their pigmentation. They can possibly weigh an estimated 5.6 tonnes. They are uniform black on the back, lighter flanks, bellies appear to be white on the dead specimens. They enjoy consuming fish, explaining why the dead Tasman Beaked Whales have a full set of teeth. The top of their head may be lighter than the upper side of the body. This animal is probably a deep diver. At a length of 6.6 meters long, a female could possibly be sexually mature. Little is known of their gestation period. They do not have any known threats. These whales have been spotted in South Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Chile. There is no information about their population. They can be confused with any other beaked whales.

Andrea-Vanessa-Erica @ the Advanced Technologies Academy