Ziphius cavirostris (Cuvier's beaked whale)

goose-beaked whale [English]; Cuvier se snoetwalvis [Afrikaans]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia >  Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals) > Placentalia (placental mammals) > Laurasiatheria > Ferungulata > Cetartiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans) > Whippomorpha > Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) > Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) > Subfamily: Ziphiinae

These beaked whales are known for their extreme colour variation and patterning between individuals. Their colouration ranges from sienna to a dark browny blue, with older males known to have almost white heads. Adult males bears scars of a characteristic ‘double track’, that are made by other Cuvier’s whales. These whales are of medium length, around 6,5 metres, and weigh on average 3 000 kilograms. They feed mainly on squid.

Cuvier's beaked whales off the coast of California. [photo Knut Hansen ©]

Text by Derek Ohland