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
