Why in news?
- Scientists recorded the first-ever sighting in the wild of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) off Baja California, Mexico.
- Findings published in Marine Mammal Science.
- Species previously known almost entirely from rare stranding records.
Relevance :
- GS 3: Environment & Biodiversity (marine species, deep-sea ecology, conservation challenges)
- GS 3: Science & Tech – Ecology Research (species discovery, behavioural ecology)
Basics
- Species: Mesoplodon ginkgodens.
- Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales).
- Group significance: Beaked whales are the second-most diverse group of cetaceans after dolphins.
- Habitat: Deep ocean; extremely elusive; surface only briefly.
Key features of ginkgo-toothed beaked whale
- Name origin: Teeth shaped like ginkgo leaves.
- Size: Up to 17.3 ft (both sexes).
- Body characteristics:
- Robust build.
- Less heavily scarred than other beaked whales → suggests less male–male aggression or tooth-related external impacts.
- Rarity: Extremely difficult to observe alive; known mostly from sparse stranding data.
Behavioural & ecological significance
- Deepest-diving mammals:
- Dive thousands of metres.
- Stay underwater for very long durations.
- Surface only briefly.
- Shy species → avoid boats, difficult to study.
- Importance for deep-sea ecosystem studies:
- Indicators of deep-ocean health.
- Crucial for understanding cetacean evolution and diving physiology.
Scientific importance of the sighting
- First high-quality field documentation of the species.
- Enhances understanding of:
- Distribution.
- Behaviour.
- Morphological variation.
- Conservation needs.
- Helps fill major data gaps in Mesoplodon genus biology.
Threats & conservation context
- Vulnerabilities:
- Bycatch.
- Marine noise pollution (sonar).
- Prospective deep-sea mining.
- Climate-linked habitat shifts.
- Conservation challenge: Extremely limited population data due to cryptic behaviour.
