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2 Physical description and behaviour 3 Conservation |
The species
English name (most common first), Latin name, known distribution:
Longman's Beaked Whale (also known as the Indo-Pacific Beaked Whale) is also sometimes classed in the Mesoplodon genus. However most authorities follow the lead of Joesph Curtis Moore who in the 1960s put it in its own genus - the Indopacetus.
Species typically have a small triangular dorsal fin about two-thirds to three-quarters along the back.
Virtually nothing is known about mesoplodon behaviour as so few have been seen alive. Further their range of behaviours at the surface appears limited to slow swimming. There is usually no surface blow and there have been no reports of a mesoplodon fluking (raising their tail fluke clear of the water on diving).
Longeveity, lactation and gestation data is non-existent.Physical description and behaviour
Physical data is scant for almost all species on account of the fact that mesoplodons all live far out to sea. For instance it is not known whether females are larger than males. From beached individuals we know that the whales are small, ranged from 4-6m in length and are typically about one 1000-1500kg in weight.