Re-identification of the supposed True's beaked whaleMesoplodon mirusfrom Scotland

Kitchener, A. C.; Herman, Jeremy S.

Re-identification of the supposed True's beaked whaleMesoplodon mirusfrom Scotland

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Kitchener, A. C.

ORCID

Herman, Jeremy S.

ORCID

Date published

June 1995

Abstract

In the first week of January 1931 a beaked whale (Family Ziphiidae) stranded at Gierinish, South Uist, Outer Hebrides, was identified as a True's beaked whale Mesoplodon mirus. This stranding is referred to frequently in the cetacean literature, either directly or indirectly. Reâ€ examination of the skull of this specimen reveals characters unique to Cuvier's whale Ziphius cavirostris and not shown by any Mesoplodon. Therefore, there is no known stranding of True's beaked whale in Britain.