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Ziphiidae - Beaked Whales

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Mammalia
 Order: Cetacea
 Family: Ziphiidae

Right WhaleThere are around 21 species of medium-sized toothed whales in this family. Ziphiids are found in all the world's oceans. They have long, slender beaks; small dorsal fins; and short, rounded or pointed flippers.

They have grooves on their throats and are brown or gray. Ziphiids eat fish and squid and are rarely found in shallow water.

 

 

 

 

 

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct Not Enough DataNot Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Endangered in US Endangered in US Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.
  New Hampshire Status Key
Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean indian Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean Pacific Ocean southern ocean Southern Ocean
More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image

New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

Northern Bottlenosed Whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean image More Info
Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bidens  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean image More Info
Blainville's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon densirostris Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info
True's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon mirus  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean image More Info
Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Ziphius cavirostris  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info


 

Baird's Beaked Whale- Berardius bairdii  Not Enough Data pacific ocean image More Info
Indo-pacific Beaked Whale - Indopacetus pacificus  Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info
Hubbs' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon carlhubbsi  Not Enough Data pacific ocean More Info
Gervais' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon europaeus  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean image More Info
Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon ginkgodens  Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Hector's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon hectori  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Perrin's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon perrini  Not Enough Data pacific ocean More Info
Pygmy Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon peruvianus Not Enough Data pacific ocean More Info
Stejneger's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon stejnegeri  Not Enough Data pacific ocean More Info

Other Species Around the World

Arnoux's Beaked Whale - Berardius arnuxii  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean image More Info
Southern Bottlenose Whale - Hyperoodon planifrons  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean More Info
Andrew's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bowdoini  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Gray's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon grayi  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean More Info
Strap-toothed Whale - Mesoplodon layardii  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean More Info
Spade-toothed Whale - Mesoplodon traversii  Not Enough Data pacific ocean More Info
Shepherd's Beaked Whale - Tasmacetus shepherdi  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info

 

Additional Information

Resource Key
profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Andrew's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bowdoini profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Andrew's beaked whale is found in temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Arnoux's Beaked Whale - Berardius arnuxii profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
Arnoux's beaked whale is a circumpolar species found in deep ocean waters of the Southern Hemisphere.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Arnoux's Beaked Whale - Berardius arnuxii profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
Arnoux's beaked whale is 26-39 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Baird's Beaked Whale - Berardius bairdii profile Photos Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Baird's beaked whale is found in deep ocean waters in the North Pacific Ocean from waters nears Japan and southern California north to the Bearing Sea.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Baird's Beaked Whale - Berardius bairdii profile Photos Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Baird's beaked whale is around 30-36 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Baird's Beaked Whale - Berardius bairdii profile Photos Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Baird's beaked whale weights over 26,000 pounds.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Blainville's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon densirostris  profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Blainville's beaked whale is found in temperate and tropical ocean waters in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is also found in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Blainville's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon densirostris  profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
In the Western Atlantic, Blainesville's beaked whale is found from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea north to Nova Scotia.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Blainville's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon densirostris  profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Blainesville's beaked whales are usually found at depths of 3,300 feet.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Ziphius cavirostris  profile Photos  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Cuvier's beaked whale is found in ocean waters around the world, except for the polar regions. It is also found in the  Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, Sea of Japan, and the Mediterranean  Sea.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Ziphius cavirostris  profile Photos  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Cuvier's beaked whale is found in deep ocean waters and can live to be 60 years old. In the Western Atlantic, it is found off the continental shelf edge from Florida to Canada.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuvier's Beaked Whale - Ziphius cavirostris  profile Photos  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Cuvier's beaked whale is also known as the goose-beaked whale.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Gervais' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon europaeus   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Gervais' beaked whale is found across much of the western and eastern Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Gervais' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon europaeus   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Gervais' beaked whales are sometimes called Antillean or Gulf Stream beaked whales.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience:General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon ginkgodens   profile Photos  Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean
The ginkgo-toothed beaked whale is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including off the coast of southern California.

Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon ginkgodens   profile Photos  Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean
The ginkgo-toothed beaked whale is around 17 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Gray's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon grayi   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
Gray's beaked whale is found in temperate ocean waters of the Southern Hemisphere.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Gray's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon grayi   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
Gray's beaked whales are 16-19 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Hector's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon hectori   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Hector's beaked whale is found cold temperate ocean waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans in the southern hemisphere.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hubbs' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon carlhubbsi   profile Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Hubbs' beaked whale is found in the North Pacific Ocean from central British Columbia south to southern California and west to Japan.

Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Hubbs' Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon carlhubbsi   profile Photos Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Hubbs' beaked whale is also known as the Arch-beaked Whale.

Source:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Indo-pacific Beaked Whale - Indopacetus pacificus    profile Photos Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean
The Indo-pacific beaked whale is found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including along the coast of southern California.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Indo-pacific Beaked Whale - Indopacetus pacificus    profile Photos Not Enough Data indian Ocean pacific ocean
The Indo-pacific beaked whale is also known as Longman's beaked whale.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Northern Bottlenosed Whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
The northern bottlenosed whale is found in the North Atlantic Ocean, including along the coast of New England.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Northern Bottlenosed Whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
The northern bottlenosed whale has a short bottle-like beak and a bulbous melon (forehead).
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Northern Bottlenosed Whale - Hyperoodon ampullatus   profile Photos Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Northern bottlenosed whales are the largest members of the beaked whale family in the North Atlantic Ocean
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Perrin's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon perrini   profile Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Perrin's beaked whale is know from just a handful of specimens found in southern California.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pygmy Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon peruvianus profile Not Enough Data pacific ocean
The pygmy beaked whale is known from just a handful of specimens and sightings in the southeast Pacific from the Gulf of California south to Chile.

Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Shepherd's Beaked Whale - Tasmacetus shepherdi   profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean
Shepherd's beaked whale is known from a few dozen sighting in the ocean waters in the Southern Hemisphere including off the coasts of southern Australia, New Zealand, and southern South America.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Southern Bottlenose Whale - Hyperoodon planifrons   profile Photos  Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
The southern bottlenose whale is a circumpolar species found in the ocean waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Southern Bottlenose Whale - Hyperoodon planifrons   profile   Least Concern atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
The southern bottlenose whale is found in the waters of the Antarctic
icepack in the summer.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bidens   profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Sowerby's beaked whale is found deep waters in the eastern and western North Atlantic, including along the coast of New England.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bidens   profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Sowerby's beaked whale eats squid, octopus, and fish.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sowerby's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon bidens   profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean
Sowerby's beaked whale are also known as the North Atlantic beaked whale.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spade-toothed Whale - Mesoplodon traversii Photos  Not Enough Data pacific ocean
The spade-toothed whales is known from just a few specimens, two from New Zealand and one from Chile.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stejneger's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon stejnegeri    profile Photos Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Stejneger's beaked whale is found in the northern Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea south to southern California, west to Japan.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stejneger's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon stejnegeri    profile Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Stejneger's beaked whale can be 10-23 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Stejneger's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon stejnegeri    profile Not Enough Data pacific ocean
Stejneger's beaked whale is also known as the Bering Sea beaked whale or the saber-toothed whale.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Strap-toothed Whale - Mesoplodon layardii   profile Photos   Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
The strap-toothed whale is found in cold ocean waters of the Southern Hemisphere.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Strap-toothed Whale - Mesoplodon layardii   profile  profile Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean pacific ocean southern ocean
The strap-toothed whale is 16-20 feet in length.
Source:
Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

True's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon mirus   Photos  Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean
True's beaked whale is found across the northern Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Florida east to the UK south to Northern Africa. It is also found in the the Southern Hemisphere from Brazil and Argentina east to souther Australia.
Source:
Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

True's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon mirus profile Not Enough Data atlantic Ocean indian Ocean
True's beaked whales are 15.5 to 17.5 feet in length.
Source:
NOAA Fisheries Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School