#berardius minimus

RESEARCHERS UNCOVER A NEW SPECIES OF BEAKED WHALE FROM THE COAST OF JAPAN

A new beaked whale species named Black-billed whale(Berardius minimus), which has been recognized by Hokkaido whalers for long has been confirmed. Known locally as Kurotsuchikujira 黒ツチクジラ, which means black Baird’s beaked whale, this species differs from other beaked whales by having a substantially smaller body size of physically mature individuals, proportionately shorter beak, and darker body colour.

- Possible Black-billed whale Berardius minimus sighted in Nemuro strait. Note the short beak, dark body colour, and sparse linear scars (photo taken by Hal Sato on 21 May 2009).

Beaked whales prefer deep ocean waters and have a long diving capacity, making them hard to see and inadequately understood. Researchers still don’t know how mature Berardius minimus female look like, as no female where found yet. The diet of this species is unclear.  

• Main image: Illustrations of Black-billed whale and Baird’s beaked whale. In general appearance, Black-billed whale resembles a small Baird’s beaked whalewith a proportionately shorter beak and more spindle-shaped body  The black bars show 1 m, drawn by Yoshimi Watanabe, National Museum of Nature and Science.
• Reference: Tadasuet al., 2019. Description of A New Species of Beaked Whale (Berardius) found in the North Pacific. Scientific Reports.