Spade-toothed whale - Mesoplodon traversii

Taxonomic data is courtesy of the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
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Nothing is known of the external appearance of this species of beaked whale, except that adult males have a large tusk erupting from each side of the lower jaw. The tusks lean backwards at an angle of about 45°, and are spade-shaped, with prominent denticles at the tip.

Spade-toothed beaked whales are most likely to be confused with strap-toothed beaked whales, from which they can be distinguished by the detailed structure of the male's tusks and cranial features. This will require expert examination.

The three specimens so far examined have come from New Zealand (two) and Chile. Therefore, this is probably a Southern Hemisphere species.

Nothing is known of the biology and behavior of this species, which is known only from two skulls and the mandibles and teeth from a third.

Nothing is known of the diet, other than an assumption that squid are the main prey.

Nothing is known of the status of the species. Currently, the spade-toothed whale is “Not Listed” (IUCN) and “Not Listed” (ESA).

• iOBIS
• World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Catalog of Life
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
• Barcode of Life

Dalebout, M.L. 2002. Species identity, genetic diversity, and molecular systematic relationships among the Ziphiidae (beaked whales). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Pitman, R.L. 2002. Mesoplodont whales Mesoplodon spp. pp. 738-742 in W.F. Perrin, B. Würsig and J.G.M. Thewissen (eds.), Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press.

Reyes, J., K. Van Waerebeek, J.C. Cardenas and J.L. Yanez. 1995. Mesoplodon bahamondi sp. n. (Cetacea, Ziphiidae), a new living beaked whale from the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile. Boletin de Museum Nacional de History Natural, Chile 45:31-44.

Van Helden, A.L., A.N. Baker, M.L. Dalebout, J.C. Reyes, K. Van Waerebeek and C.S. Baker. 2002. Resurrection of Mesoplodon traversii (Gray, 1874), senior synonym of M. bahamondi Reyes, Van Waerebeek, Cardenas and Yanez, 1995 (Cetacea Ziphiidae). Marine Mammal Science 18:609-621.