Mammals
Gray's Beaked Whale
Mesoplodon grayi · also called scamperdown whale
Known mainly from the bodies of animals that washed ashore rather than sightings at sea, Gray’s beaked whale remains one of the more frequently stranded yet still poorly understood beaked whale species found across the Southern Hemisphere.
Overview
Gray’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi, is a Data Deficient marine mammal native to ocean habitat across deep offshore waters of the Southern Hemisphere, including around New Zealand, Australia, and South America. Its relatively frequent strandings, distinctive narrow beak, and near-total absence from direct at-sea observation make it one of the more paradoxically well-documented yet mysterious beaked whale species found anywhere in the world.
Known mostly by accident
Almost everything understood about Gray’s beaked whale comes not from watching it live its life at sea, but from studying the bodies of animals that stranded on shore, a strange asymmetry that leaves basic questions about its behaviour and population still largely unanswered.
Status
Data Deficient, with population size and trends remaining poorly documented across its remote offshore range, reflecting the general difficulty of studying deep-diving beaked whale species.
Gray's Beaked Whale: common questions
Why is Gray's beaked whale better known than some other beaked whales?
This species is one of the more frequently stranded beaked whale species in the Southern Hemisphere, and strandings have provided much of what is known about its biology given how rarely it is seen alive at sea.
How can you identify Gray's beaked whale?
This species has a notably narrow, elongated beak, longer in proportion to its body than many other beaked whale species, along with small visible teeth in adult males.
Why is Gray's beaked whale rarely seen alive?
This species remains rarely observed alive at sea due to its deep-diving, far-offshore habits, despite being relatively well documented through strandings.
Where is Gray's beaked whale found?
This species is found across circumpolar temperate and cool waters of the Southern Hemisphere, including around New Zealand, Australia, and South America.