Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Ocean/Sea/Gulf:
North Pacific Ocean, Sea Of Okhotsk  Search this
Preparation:
Skull
Sex:
Female
Place:
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan, Asia, North Pacific Ocean
Collection Date:
11 May 2009
Notes:
Yamada, T. K., S. Kitamura, et al. (2019). "Description of a new species of beaked whale (Berardius) found in the North Pacific." Scientific Reports: 14 pp. Two types of Berardius are recognised by local whalers in Hokkaido, Japan. The first is the ordinary Baird's beaked whale, B. bairdii, whereas the other is much smaller and entirely black. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the black type is one recognisable taxonomic unit within the Berardius clade but is distinct from the two known Berardius species. To determine the characteristics of the black type, we summarised external morphology and skull osteometric data obtained from four individuals, which included three individuals from Hokkaido and one additional individual from the United States National Museum of Natural History collection. The whales differed from all of their congeners by having the following unique characters: a substantially smaller body size of physically mature individuals, proportionately shorter beak, and darker body colour. Thus, we conclude that the whales are a third Berardius species. [Berardius minimus]
Severed head; drifting; Neonate
Record Last Modified:
24 Sep 2019
Specimen Count:
1
Taxonomy:
Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Mammalia, Eutheria, Cetacea, Odontoceti, Ziphiidae
Published Name:
Berardius minimus
Other Numbers:
Whale Field Number 1 : No number
USNM Number:
NMST36219
See more items in:
Vertebrate Zoology
Mammals
Data Source:
NMNH - Vertebrate Zoology - Mammals Division
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/39c44a298-659e-4a8d-ba26-6c5f7d4b9c94
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhvz_15042333