PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Cetacea
FAMILY: Ziphiidae
GENUS: Mesoplodon
SPECIES: hectori
TOOTHED or TOOTHLESS (BALEEN): Toothed
FRESHWATER, SALTERWATER or BRACKISH: Saltwater
HABITAT: Southern Hemisphere, especially near New Zealand.
LENGTH (maximum): 14Ft
WEIGHT (maximum): unknown
RELATIVE SPECIES: Very similar to Gray’s, Andrew’s, Blainville’s, Ginkotoothed, True’s and Sharp-toothed beaked whales.
NEIGHBORING SPECIES: Shepherds beaked whale, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
PREDATORS: Unknown
THREATS: It is not hunted, nor is it commonly caught in fishing gear.
DIET: Probably squid
MANNER OF FEEDING: They probably forage near the bottom, just like other beaked whales.
BEHAVIOR: They have only been sighted a few times. Each time they approached the boats and were traveling in pairs.
REPRODUCTION: Unknown
LIFE SPAN: Unknown
COOL/GROSS/WEIRD:
- It is unknown how abundant they are. They have rarely been seen
SOURCES:
- Knopf, Alfred A. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.Random House. 2002
- http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_hectori/m_hectori.htm
-TSF-
