Gray's Beaked Whale
Gray's Beaked Whale seems to be curcumpolar in the Southern Hemisphere as most records are from New Zealand and Australia. Other sightings and strandings have been noted in Chile, South Africa, amd Argentina. One individual stranded in 1927 on the coast of the Netherlands.
Classification: This species was classified by Julius Von Haast (Director of the New Zealand Museum) in 1876. It was dedicated to the memory of the famous British biologist, John Gray, who died the year before.
Local Names: Scamperdown Whale; Southern Beaked Whale.
Description: Adults are dark grey in colour, with pale patches on the undersides. The small head leads to a narrow beak which becomes white in adulthood. Two small, triangular teeth erupt from the front of the lopwer jaw in both sexes. There are 17-22 pairs of small teeth in the upper jaw. The longest male ever recorded measured 4.74m, with the longest female measuring 5.64m.
Recognition at sea: Unknown.
Habitat: Gray's Beaked Whale is thought to prefer cool temperate seas.
Food & Feeding:Unknown.
Behaviour: Individuals have been known to raise their beak from the water upon surfacing. One mass stranding of 28 animals has been reported, an unusual event for beaked whales.
Longevity: Unknown.
Estimated Current Population: Unknown.
The Influence of Man: Unknown.
Source: CETACEA
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