Southern bottlenose whale

The Southern Bottlenose Whale ( Hyperoodon planifrons ) is a cetacean of the family of beaked whales ( Ziphiidae ). He is very similar to living in the North Atlantic Northern bottlenose whale (H. ampullatus ), one of the best known species of this family.

Dissemination

The Southern bottlenose whale lives in the circumpolar sub-Antarctic seas, frequent sightings there in Patagonia, South Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand and the Antarctic coast. He urges his wanderings but regularly to the equator before, he was, for example, already observed off the coast of Hawaii and Sri Lanka. In the ( Antarctic ) summer he moves into the region of the Antarctic pack ice while pulling in the cooler months in more tropical waters. South of 58 ° south latitude, the Southern bottlenose whale is the most common whale.

Description

Southern bottlenose whales reach a length of up to 8 meters, with males at around 7.5 meters in length are significantly larger than females ( about 6.5 meters). Its weight is estimated to be 6 to 8 tonnes. So you remain smaller than their northern relatives, and are characterized by a short snout and a clear domed melon, which is especially pronounced in adult males. Males have two large teeth in the lower jaw, which are slightly inclined bent forward and outward. The crescent-shaped, small fin is located about two-thirds of the body length. The skin of these whales is colored gray-brown, with the part of the face, the abdomen and flanks are lighter. In addition, these animals are brightening with aging. The skin of older males is covered by paired scars.

Way of life

Since these animals live far from the major shipping routes and are poorly understood, there is little secure knowledge about the habits of these animals. In most aspects, it should match that of their northern counterparts. As with most beaked whales prefer Southern bottlenose whales, the open sea with over 1000 meters deep and rarely come into the area of the continental shelf. They live together in schools from two to twelve animals. In contrast to the Northern bottlenose whale, there are few reports of approaches to boats, but not so much the fear of animals is probably due to a lack of observations.

The main diet of these whales consists of squid, in addition they also take fish to him.

Little is known about the propagation of the Southern bottlenose whales. Most calves are likely to come in the spring to the world and be about 3 feet tall at birth.

Threat

In contrast to its northern relative of the Southern bottlenose whale was hunted commercially never on a large scale. Although he is little known and rarely seen by humans, one estimates its holdings to about 500,000 animals, which he would be the most common whale of the Antarctic region.