Hubbs' Beaked Whale
Hubbs' Beaked Whale is a little-known, and little-seen, cetacean. It inhabits the North Pacific.
Classification: The American biologist Moore described this species in 1963 and named it after the American marine biologist Carl Hubbs.
Local Names: Arch-Beaked Whale.
Description: Adult females and the young are medium grey which fades through lighter grey to white on the flanks and undersides. Males are dark grey to black, save for a white region from the rostrum's tip and lower jaw to the back of the teeth, and another around the blowhole. Two prominant teeth erupt from the rear of their lower jaw, but remain concealed in females. The skin may have many scratches from other males' teeth. Both the longest male and the longest female specimens measured 5.32m.
Recognition at sea: Unknown.
Habitat: Hubbs' Beaked Whale inhabits cold temperate waters, and seems to follow the deep subarctic currents.
Food & Feeding:A stomach analysis of an adult Hubbs' Beaked Whale shows that squid and deepsea fish are the main prey.
Behaviour: Unknown.
Longevity: Unknown.
Estimated Current Population: Unknown.
The Influence of Man: Japan has taken some individuals as part of the small-scale harpoon fisheries.
Source: CETACEA
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