Mammals
Hector's Beaked Whale
Mesoplodon hectori · also called Hector's whale
Small even by the modest standards of its own genus, Hector’s beaked whale remains one of the more obscure marine mammals of the Southern Hemisphere, its existence documented mainly through a scattering of strandings rather than sightings at sea.
Overview
Hector’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori, is a Data Deficient marine mammal native to ocean habitat across deep offshore waters of the Southern Hemisphere, including around New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. Its status as one of the smallest beaked whale species, its near-total absence from direct at-sea observation, and its reliance on deep, offshore squid hunting make it one of the more genuinely obscure marine mammals found anywhere on Earth.
A whale pieced together from strandings alone
With almost no confirmed sightings of living animals, Hector’s beaked whale exists in the scientific record mainly as a series of stranded specimens, leaving even basic facts about its population and behaviour largely inferred from closely related, better-studied species.
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.
Hector's Beaked Whale: common questions
How does Hector's beaked whale compare in size with other beaked whales?
This species is one of the smallest members of its genus, noticeably more compact than several other Mesoplodon beaked whales found across the same general region.
Why is so little known about Hector's beaked whale?
This species is known mostly from a limited number of stranded individuals, since it is rarely if ever observed alive at sea due to its deep-diving, offshore habits.
How can you tell a male Hector's beaked whale from a female?
Adult males develop small teeth that erupt at the tip of the lower jaw, a feature typical of many Mesoplodon beaked whales, while females lack this visible tooth eruption.
Where is Hector's beaked whale found?
This species is found across circumpolar temperate and cool waters of the Southern Hemisphere, including around New Zealand, South America, and South Africa.