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Overview
Distribution
Range Description
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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IUCN
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Geographic Range
Mesoplodon peruvianus was discovered in Peru in 1991 and is only known in Peruvian waters, although there have been two documented strandings on Mexican shores (The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, 2001). Strandings and captures have taken place between 11 and 15 degrees south latitude, off the coast of central and southern Peru. This is thought to be the southern end of the range of M. peruvianus (Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 2001).
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )
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Animal Diversity Web
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Distribution
© WoRMS for SMEBD
Source:
World Register of Marine Species
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Distribution
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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=1318
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Gordon, D. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume One: Kingdom Animalia. 584 pp
http://www.marinespecies.org/porifera/porifera.php?p=sourcedetails&id=145244
© WoRMS for SMEBD
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World Register of Marine Species
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
At birth, M. peruvianus is between 1.5-1.6 m long, while the adult is between 3.4-3.7 m. This whale is the smallest species of Mesoplodon (World Biodiversity Database, 2001). This species is, on its upper side, uniformly dark gray fading to light gray on the underside (dark gray posterior to the navel). The body is spindle-shaped. The short, dark-tipped beak precedes a narrow head with an indentation at the blowhole. This species has two tiny teeth on its lower jaw. The small, triangular dorsal fin has a wide base and is positioned far behind the center of the animal. The flukes have no notches, and their tips are slightly pointed. (All information from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 2001 unless otherwise noted.)
M. peruvianus exhibits sexual dimorphism. The males of the species are larger than the females (World Biodiversity Database, 2001).
The features that distinguish this Mesoplodon species from others of its genus are most prominent in males (Webb, 1998).
Range length: 3.4 to 3.7 m.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
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Animal Diversity Web
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Type Information
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Cast
Collector(s): B. Luscombe
Year Collected: 1988
Locality: Huacho, Playa Paraiso, Lima, Peru, South America, South Pacific Ocean
- Type: Reyes, J. C., et al. 1991. Marine Mammal Science. 7 (1): 1-24.
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
The diet consists of small mid-water fishes, oceanic squids, and shrimps. Presumably these are taken at moderate to great depths.
Systems
- Marine
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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IUCN
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Habitat
This species lives in mid- to deep-sea waters off of the Peruvian coast.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: pelagic
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
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Animal Diversity Web
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Habitat
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UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=1318
© WoRMS for SMEBD
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World Register of Marine Species
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Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 3 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 0
Temperature range (°C): 20.785 - 24.724
Nitrate (umol/L): 2.793 - 6.319
Salinity (PPS): 34.053 - 35.252
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.756 - 5.074
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.523 - 1.004
Silicate (umol/l): 3.577 - 5.680
Graphical representation
Temperature range (°C): 20.785 - 24.724
Nitrate (umol/L): 2.793 - 6.319
Salinity (PPS): 34.053 - 35.252
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.756 - 5.074
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.523 - 1.004
Silicate (umol/l): 3.577 - 5.680
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Although feeding by M. peruvianus has not been witnessed, it is believed that this species eats mid- to deep-sea fish and squid (Cetacea, 2001).
Animal Foods: fish; mollusks
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Molluscivore )
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Animal Diversity Web
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Associations
Predation
Humans are the only known threat to M. peruvianus. This whale becomes tangled in fishing nets, which initially led to the discovery of this species.
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Animal Diversity Web
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Known prey organisms
Actinopterygii
Mollusca
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed February 16, 2011 at http://animaldiversity.org. http://www.animaldiversity.org
© SPIRE project
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SPIRE
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
History
- 1996Data Deficient
- 1994Insufficiently Known(Groombridge 1994)
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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IUCN
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Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
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Animal Diversity Web
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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IUCN
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Threats
Threats
There is no information on global abundance or trends in abundance for this species. It is not believed to be uncommon but it is potentially vulnerable to low-level threats and a 30% global reduction over three generations cannot be ruled out
In recent years, there has been increasing concern that loud underwater sounds, such as active sonar and seismic operations, may be harmful to beaked whales (Malakoff 2002). The use of active sonar from military vessels has been implicated in mass strandings of a number of beaked whales including several Mesoplodon species and Indopacetus pacificus (Balcomb and Claridge 2001, Jepson et al. 2003, Cox et al. 2006, Wang and Yang 2006). Sound impacts may be important for all ziphiid species.
Pygmy beaked whales have been recorded ingesting plastic items, which may eventually lead to death (e.g. Scott et al. 2001).
Predicted impacts of global climate change on the marine environment may affect this species of whale, although the nature of impacts is unclear (Learmonth et al. 2006).
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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IUCN
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Management
Conservation Actions
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Risks
IUCN Red List Category
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IUCN (2008) Cetacean update of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=125373
© WoRMS for SMEBD
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World Register of Marine Species
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Wikipedia
Pygmy beaked whale
The Pygmy Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon peruvianus), also known as the Bandolero Beaked Whale, Peruvian Beaked Whale and Lesser Beak Whale, is the smallest of the Mesoplodonts and one of the newest discoveries. Interestingly, there were at least two dozen sightings of an unknown beaked whale named Mesoplodon sp. A before the initial classification, and those are now believed to be synonymous with the species. Physical evidence of the species was first described in 1990 from Baja California, consisting of a skeleton and a rotting carcass.
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Physical description
The body of the Pygmy Beaked Whale is the rather typical spindle shape of the genus, although the tail is unusually thick. The melon is somewhat bulbous and slopes down into a rather short beak. The mouthline in males has a very distinct arch with two teeth protruding slightly from the gum line before the apex. The coloration is typically dark gray on the top and lighter below, especially on the lower jaw, throat, and behind the umbililicus. Males may have a distinct pale "chevron" pattern on their back. The size for this species in only around 4.5 meters (13 feet long) in mature animals, and around 1.6 meters (5 ft) when born.
Population and distribution
This Beaked Whale has been recorded in the eastern tropical Pacific between Baja California and Peru through sightings and strandings. Another specimen, apparently of the same species, washed up in New Zealand, which indicates a presence in the western Pacific as well. No population estimates have been made.
Behavior
Little is known about the group behaviors of this whale, and small groups have been seen. Stomach contents reveal at least one specimen is a fish eater, as opposed to the squid normally eaten by the genus.
Conservation
This species may be quite vulnerable to gillnets in Peru, since scientists found 6 dead adults in a very small sample. However, there is not enough evidence to determine anything about the species.
Specimens
- MNZ MM002142, collected from Oaro overbridge, south of Kaikoura, New Zealand, 19 October 1993.
References
- ^ Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. & Pitman, R.L. (2008). Mesoplodon peruvianus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 March 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of data deficient.
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Edited by William F. Perrin, Bernd Wursig, and J.G.M Thewissen. Academic Press, 2002. ISBN 0-12-551340-2
- Sea Mammals of the World. Written by Randall R. Reeves, Brent S. Steward, Phillip J. Clapham, and James A. Owell. A & C Black, London, 2002. ISBN 0-7136-6334-0
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Wikipedia
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