Mesoplodon perrini, Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker & van Helden, 2002

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2014, Ziphiidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 4 Sea Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 326-357 : 352

11.

Perrin’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon perrini

French: Baleine-a-bec de Perrin / German: Perrin-Zweizahnwal / Spanish: Zifio de Perrin

Other common names: California Beaked Whale

Taxonomy. Mesoplodon perrini Dalebout et al., 2002 ,

USA, Carlsbad, California.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. It is known from a handful of strandings on California coast in W USA, and one possible sighting at sea, also off California; it is not known how reflective these records are of the actual distribution of the species at sea.

Descriptive notes. Total length 390-443 cm; weight ¢.700 kg (unconfirmed).

Body of Perrin’s Beaked Whale is spindle-shaped, with greatest girth around its midpoint. Flukes are wide in relation to body length, and tailstock is compressed laterally. Dorsal fin is small and set approximately two-thirds the distance between tip of the beak and end of the tail. Coloration of Perrin’s Beaked Whale is poorly known, but it appears to be dark on top and paler underneath. Adult males may have a number of long white lines that are unpigmented scars from aggressive male—male interactions. Rostrum and lower jaw form a short indistinct beak, and there are two grooves on the throat. In adult males, there is a pair of laterally compressed, triangular tusks close to the tip of the lower jaw.

Habitat. There is no specific information available for this species, but it is presumed to occur primarily in waters greater than 200 m deep.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but in common with other species of Mesoplodon , it is presumed to feed on deep-water squid and deep-water fish. As with other species of beaked whales, Perrin’s Beaked Whales are likely to forage at depths greater than 500 m for much oftheir lives.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List. There are no estimates of global population size of Perrin’s Beaked Whale. Like other species of beaked whales, Perrin’s Beaked Whale is potentially affected by ingestion of plastic debris, bycatch in driftnetfisheries, and noise pollution. Nevertheless, nothing is known about the form or extent of these potential impacts.

Bibliography. Dalebout et al. (2002), MacLeod et al. (2006), Mead (1989b).

Figures

1. Baird’s Beaked Whale (Berardius baiwrdu), 2. Arnoux’s Beaked Whale (Berardius arnuxu), 3. Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris), 4. Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), 5. Southern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon planifrons), 6. Shepherd’s Beaked Whale (Tasmacetus shepherd), 7. Longman’s Beaked Whale (Indopacetus pacificus), 8. Hubbs’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi), 9. Stejneger’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), 10. Pygmy Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon peruvianus), 11. Perrin’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon perrini), 12. True’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon marus), 13. Strap-toothed Whale (Mesoplodon layardii), 14. Hector’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon hectori)

Distribution. It is known from a handful of strandings on California coast in W USA, and one possible sighting at sea, also off California; it is not known how reflective these records are of the actual distribution of the species at sea.