Cuvier's Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
: Family Ziphiidae :
Ziphius cavirostris
G. Cuvier
Description.
A moderately small beaked
whale with upperparts ranging in color from dark brown to
lead gray or blackish in color; underparts paler, but not
whitish; occasionally head and upper back whitish; beak
moderately prominent and the forehead rising rather
sharply; lower jaw longer than upper; pectoral fin
relatively small and the dorsal fin placed on posterior
third of body; prominent keel extends from dorsal fin to
tail; skull with length of rostrum less than twice its
breadth at notch; lower jaw of males with one large tooth
(about 7 cm in length and 4 cm in diameter) at the tip;
in females the teeth are small and seldom break through
the gums so that the animal appears to be toothless; two
converging grooves on throat. Total length of adults, 5-7
m. Weight, 2.5-4.5 metric tons.
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