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| Adult Male © Phil Coles |
Quick Facts |
| 5.4m |
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In the temperate waters of the north Pacific, off Japan and along the Pacific coast of north America. |
| 1,500kg |
Dark colouration, but contrasting white beak and ‘beanie’ cap of males are distinctive, as are the very large teeth half way along the jaw and excessive scarring. Females are harder to identify, but Hubb’s beaked whales have longer beaks then the similar looking Stejneger’s and a more rounded melon. |
| Deep sea squid and fish. |
Occasional caught in drift nets. |
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Described as recently as 1963 Hubb’s beaked whale is a resident of the temperate north Pacific which has been recorded from British Columbia to California in the East, and Japan in the west. At least 30 strandings have been recorded, mainly along the American coast. Adult male Hubb’s beaked whales maybe one of easier to identify Mesoplodons. The males have a pale beak and cap-like patch on their foreheads which contrast with the otherwise dark heads. In addition to their distinctive coloration male Hubb’s beaked whales are one of the most heavily armed beaked whales with large teeth that rise well clear of the upper jaw and result in mature males being covered in a network of deep pale parallel scars as a result of combat.
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Adult Male © Phil Coles |
Females are less distinctive than the males and exhibit typical counter shading, lighter and darker below, they also lack the scarring of the males. In both sexes the beak is moderately long and met by a rounded melon, something that may aid identification in the field.
This species is caught in fishing gear although its impact on local populations is not yet known.
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