Mesoplodon ginkgodens Nishiwaki and Kamiya, 1958

Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zootaxa 4522 (1), pp. 1-216 : 133

Mesoplodon ginkgodens Nishiwaki and Kamiya, 1958 —Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon ginkgodens Nishiwaki and Kamiya, 1958 p.53 ; Type locality- Oiso Beach, Sagami Bay (near Tokyo), Japan; Kim et al., p.79; Kim, 2004 p.236.

Range: The overall range of the species covers temperate and tropical waters in the North Pacific and Indian Oceans. Most of the records have originated from the seas around Japan ( Taylor et al. 2008). Despite the regular stranding of ginkgo-toothed beaked whales in Japan ( Yamada 2009), no stranding or by-catch has been reported in the waters of Korea ( Fig. 89 ).

Remarks: Despite the absence of records in Korea, the species has been listed as present since the National Fisheries Research Institute published Whales of Korea in 2000. Dalebout et al. (2012) presented genetic and morphological data supporting the resurrection of M. hotaula as either a separate species or a subspecies of M. ginkgodens . Three Mesoplodon stocks were identified in the Pacific Ocean. However, at this point, no subspecific classification has been proposed.

Figures

FIGURE 89. Range map of Mesoplodon ginkgodens in Korea.