Perrin's beaked whale

Perrin's beaked whale
Size compared to an average human
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Infraorder: Cetacea
Family: Ziphiidae
Genus: Mesoplodon
Species:
M. perrini
Binomial name
Mesoplodon perrini
Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker & van Helden, 2002
Locations and dates of strandings (yellow)
and possible at-sea sightings (dark blue).

Perrin's beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini) is part of the toothed whale suborder and is one of over 90 known cetaceans in existence today.[3] Beaked whales are part of the family Ziphiidae, which are the second most diverse group out of all marine mammals with over 20 species currently recognized.[4] Although diverse, little is understood about these timid, deep divers that can dive for up to two hours.[5] The whales are partially named after their beak shaped jaw, which extends from their small head. The genus name Mesoplodon comes from the Greek meanings of meso- (middle), - hopla (arms), - odon (teeth), and may be translated as 'armed with a tooth in the center of the jaw'.

Perrin's beaked whale was described as a new species in 2002 by Dalebout et al. based on five animals stranding on the coast of California between 1975 and 1997, which were initially identified as other species.[6] The common and specific names of Mesopledon perrini are a tribute to cetologist William F. Perrin. As of May 2019, only six specimens have ever been examined.[6] The first two specimens were found stranded on the California coast in May 1975, other specimens were found in 1978, 1979, September 1997 (a strong El Niño year), and October 2013.[7] The first four individuals were initially identified as Hector's beaked whales (Mesoplodon hectori), but the mtDNA sequence database of beaked whales revealed the specimens were genetically distinct. The fifth was assumed to be a neonate Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris).

  1. ^ Pitman, R.L.; Taylor, B.L.; Barlow, J.; Cooke, J.G. (2020). "Mesoplodon perrini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T41759A50383813. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T41759A50383813.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ "Whale and dolphin species guide". Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  4. ^ Dalebout, Merel L.; Mead, James G.; Baker, C. Scott; Baker, Alan N.; Helden, Anton L. (July 2002). "A new species of beaked whale Mesoplodon perrini sp. n.(Cetacea: Ziphiidae) discovered through phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences". Marine Mammal Science. 18 (3): 577–608. Bibcode:2002MMamS..18..577D. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01061.x.
  5. ^ Moore, Jeffrey E.; Barlow, Jay P. (16 January 2013). "Declining Abundance of Beaked Whales (Family Ziphiidae) in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem". PLOS ONE. 8 (1): e52770. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...852770M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052770. PMC 3547055. PMID 23341907.
  6. ^ a b "UCSC scientists study rare beaked whale stranded at Scott Creek Beach".
  7. ^ Moore, Jeff; Barlow, Jay (2017). "Population abundance and trend estimates for beaked whales and sperm whales in the California Current from ship-based visual line-transect survey data, 1991-2014". doi:10.7289/V5/TM-SWFSC-585. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)