CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE
Ziphius Cavirostris
Order
Odontoceti
Family
Ziphiidae
These whales live up to about 60 years, measure between 5 and 7 meters, and weigh between 1850 and 3000 kg. They mainly feed on fish, crustaceans, and deep pelagic cephalopods. They can dive up to 3000 meters deep, day and night, to hunt and feed.
Cuvier's beaked whales live in the open sea above great depths. They inhabit the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Sexual maturity is reached between 7 and 11 years, at which point they measure around 6 meters. They can give birth to a calf every two to three years after a one-year gestation period.
- Source : AGOA
Head
Small, with a less prominent beak, distinct melon. The mature male has two teeth protruding at the tip of the lower jaw.
Fin
Small falcate dorsal fin, small rounded pectorals, tail fin with a median notch.
Blow
Faint (2-3 times at 20-30 second intervals), bush-shaped, projected less than 1 meter, slightly forward and to the left.
Swimming sequence
Arches the body before diving vertically without exposing its tail fin, rarely jumps.
Coloration
Gray to brown, with light markings on the body and head, the back is often marked with scars.
