| Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri (True, 1885), (aka saber-toothed beaked whale, Bering Sea beaked whale, North Pacific beaked whale) ranges in length from 3-7 m, usually averaging longer than 5.3 m. Females are typically longer than males with a larger head. Adults of both sexes are dark gray to black and females usually have paler coloring on the ventral side. M. stejnegeri is distinguished from other Mesoplodon species by the shape and position of its 2 tusklike teeth located on the lower jaw, which are larger in male Stejneger's beaked whales. The bodies of the males are often scarred from the tusks, which are used during competitions for females during mating season. |
