Whales - Species | Perrins Beaked Whale

Perrin's Beaked Whale - Mesoplodon perrini

The Perrin’s Beaked Whale is thought to be limited to the North Pacific Ocean as it has only ever been spotted off the Californian coast. This whale prefers a diet of pelagic squid and small fish, according to stomach contents found on washed-up specimens. It has been described as the Northern Hemisphere sister of the Pygmy Beaked Whale.

The Perrin’s Beaked Whale measures approximately 4.5m at adulthood and has one of the shortest beaks of all the beaked whales. Males boast a tusk that is large and triangular in shape, situated just behind the lower jaw’s tip. This grows from one of the two teeth that males form during their youth. Their backs are dark grey and underbellies are white or much lighter. The underside of the tail is marked by white striations. Males are distinct by their tusk, as well as by white markings around the umbilicus or navel, and a dark grey colour from the cape to the eye. The dorsal fin is small and closer to the tail than the head. There are several marked similarities to other species of whale, however, and it requires expert assistance to make a clear ruling by conducting DNA tests or by checking the anatomical structure of the skull. Female colouration is still a mystery as only one female was ever beached and she was badly decomposed.

Because the Perrin’s Beaked Whale is able to dive beneath the water’s surface for extended periods of time, they are not often seen by tour groups. In fact, much of the data on these whales has been gleaned by very few specimens, and is limited. The Perrin’s Beaked Whale, in particular, has never been recorded alive by researchers and the only specimens found were those that had washed ashore. They prefer waters of 1000m or more in depth. Unfortunately, there is no available information regarding the numbers of Perrin’s Beaked Whales alive today, or where exactly they live.

Males tend to fight with one another, leaving scars. However, from the nature of the scars, it can be assumed that the blows are glancing, and the intention is not to impale one another with their tusks. The Perrin’s Beaked Whale is also the victim of the cookiecutter shark, known for trying to bite off chucks of the whale’s flesh while it is still alive, but these attacks are unlikely to kill the whale.

The body of the Perrin’s Beaked Whale is home to several parasitic animals, including the thoracican barnacle and the Phyllobothrium cestodes

It is estimated that juvenile Perrin’s Beaked Whales nurse for about 12 months, based on beached infants and fetuses. It is also thought that babies are born and weaned during the Northern hemisphere summer.