Imagine aquatic animals the size of elephants that we just can't find
March 7, 2017 12:33 PM   Subscribe

The first underwater video (Washington Post article with embedded video) of True's beaked whales (Mesoplodon mirus) show a cohesive group of three adult or subadult whales swimming together in the Azores. The video was released in conjunction with a detailed new study in the journal PeerJ that combined data from strandings and sightings with genetic analyses of individual whales from both the northern and southern hemispheres (full paper online).

The paper and video are notable because they provide more detail about the elusive species, one of 22 cetacean species characterized by dolphinlike noses and missile-shaped bodies, which spend more than 90 percent of their time deep underwater. This preference for the deep, combined with what is assumed to be very small populations, makes it extremely hard to quantify, so much that they are listed as "data deficient" by IUCR. In fact, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), notes:
Many species of beaked whales (especially those in the genus Mesoplodon) are very difficult to distinguish from one another (even when dead). At sea, they are challenging to observe and identify to the species level due to their cryptic, skittish behavior, a low profile, and a small, inconspicuous blow at the waters surface; therefore, much of the available characterization for beaked whales is to genus level only. Uncertainty regarding species identification of beaked whales often exists because of a lack of easily discernable or distinct physical characteristics.
In fact, a new species was re-classified as recently as 2014, when seven stranded beaked whales were identified as Mesoplodon hotaula (Deraniyagala's beaked whale), resurrecting the species that was originally identified in 1963, as described in the journal article (abstract only, paywalled article).
posted by filthy light thief (6 comments total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
 
This is cool!
posted by bq at 12:56 PM on March 7, 2017


Ah, the doggo of the sea. 14/10, would support conservation efforts.
posted by LegallyBread at 1:06 PM on March 7, 2017 [4 favorites]


challenging to observe and identify to the species level due to their cryptic, skittish behavior, a low profile, and a small, inconspicuous blow at the waters surface

The longer they live unobserved by us, well, the longer they'll live.
Cheers to you True's, long may you run.
posted by artdrectr at 3:12 PM on March 7, 2017 [1 favorite]


Behavior

They have been seen in small groups, and are believed to be squid eaters.

Little else is known.


We have to stop relying on said for our whale intelligence gathering.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:28 PM on March 7, 2017


Two FPP whale videos at the same time. My satisfaction with MetaFilter has increased significantly.

They seem to have a very interesting shape but I haven't read all the links yet so maybe that is covered in more detail. Either way adding a bunch of stuff to my 'to-read' list.
posted by mark k at 8:43 PM on March 7, 2017


Best detail: "Research on stranded whales revealed that males have a signature set of small teeth sticking out from their lower jaw, sort of like Sweetums the Muppet."
posted by oakroom at 5:59 AM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


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