General Description

Body dark with white-grey throat patch and lower jaw. Dark patch on top of head extending around eyes. Backward curving long tusks (up to 30cm) in middle of lower jaw. Young whales with less distinct colouration, dark above and pale below. Up to 6.4 m long.

Biology

This is the largest of the mesoplodont beaked whales, with adults reaching six metres in length and weighing more than 1300 kg. The bizarre curved teeth in these whales prevent the mouth of some individuals from opening far, which limits the size and type of prey to mainly small, slender squid of about 15 cm in length.

Habitat

Deep areas beyond the continental shelf in temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

Open water

Distribution guide

Limited to the Southern Hemisphere. Potentially near Port Phillip, recorded from Victoria.

Species Group

Mammals › Whales and dolphins

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Surface Midwater

Max Size

6.4 m

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Data Deficient
• CITES : Trade restrictions (Appendix II)