Whales

Hector’s Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon hectori

The Hector’s Beaked Whale is one of the smallest beaked whales known today. It was named after Sir James Hector, a founder of the colonial museum in Wellington, New Zealand. The only information known on this species, is from a few stranded specimens found mainly on beaches of New Zealand. Hector's Beaked Whale appears to be dark grey to brown, with pale grey undersides. They reach a maximum length of about 4.2 meters and with an estimated weight of about 1 tonne, with the longest female animal found being slightly bigger at 4.4 meters. Newborns presumably are about 2 to 2.5 meters. Adult males have a pair of flattened, triangular teeth near the tip of the lower jaw. As with most other beaked whales, the teeth do not erupt in females. These teeth in males are probably responsible for the scratches and scars commonly seen on the flanks of these animals due to the competition between each other. The presence of the flattened teeth of bulls at the tip of the lower jaw may allow them to be distinguished from other species of Mesoplodon when the head is seen well. The melon, which is not very prominent, slopes quite steeply to the short beak. The dorsal fin is triangular to slightly hooked, small and rounded at the tip.

The Hector’s Beaked Whale is found mostly in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere. These whales presumably feed upon deepwater squid and fish, but because they lack functional teeth, they no doubt feed upon their prey by means of suction. The remains of an invertebrae have, however, been found in the stomach of a whale stranded in California, but it was never identified. It seems The Hector’s Beaked Whale has never been commercially hunted, except for the single animal that was recorded to have been taken in the 1800’s in New Zealand. Numerous specimens have been recorded from Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Brazil, South Africa, Tasmania, New Zealand and Chile. However, previously several strandings were reported in Southern California from 1975 to 1979, but those species were found to belong to a new species, which was named the Perrin’s Beaked Whale.

From 1995, there have only been 2 probable sightings in the wild, therefore there is very little information on their reproduction and behaviour. This species, does however, seem to be unusual for a Mesoplodon as one of the animals actually seemed inquisitive enough to approach the boat. If this is normal behaviour for the Hector’s Beaked Whale, it seems strange that there have not been more sightings, unless of course, the species is very rare.