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About The Arnoux’s Beaked Whale

Context:

A team of researchers has stumbled upon rare Arnoux’s Beaked Whales off the coast of Antarctica recently.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Arnoux’s Beaked Whale

  • Arnoux’s Beaked Whale belongs to the cetacean group, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
  • Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii
Social Behavior and Habitat
  • Typically found in groups ranging from 6-10 individuals, though larger gatherings of up to 80 have been observed.
  • Exclusively inhabits the Southern Hemisphere, with a range extending to circumpolar regions in cooler temperate and subpolar waters, often nearing the Antarctic ice shelf around 78°S.
Physical Characteristics
  • Size and Build: Known for their impressive diving capabilities, they can reach lengths of about 30 feet.
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Females generally surpass males in size.
  • Appearance: Resembling dolphins, they have a spindle-shaped body with a distinctively small, triangular, and slightly hooked dorsal fin located towards the rear.
  • Coloration: Predominantly dark brown with lighter hues on the head and the ventral side, adorned with white patches.
  • Unique Features: Known as the Southern four-toothed Whales for the four visible teeth in their lower jaw, even when their mouths are closed.
  • Scarring in Males: Males often exhibit significant scarring around their dorsal fins, a common trait among many whale species.
Conservation Status
  • Current Status: Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population within their natural habitat.

-Source: The Hindu


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