Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Cuvier's beaked whale, goose-beaked whale, or ziphius (Ziphius cavirostris) is the most widely distributed of all beaked whales in the family Ziphiidae. It is among the largest beaked whales but smaller than most baleen whales, reaching lengths of about 4.5–7 m (15 to 23 ft) and weights of 1,800–3,100 kg (4,000 to 6,800 lb). This species is pelagic, meaning it inhabits deep offshore waters far from coastlines, typically deeper than 1,000m (3,300 ft). They reside mostly in temperate, tropical, and subtropical areas of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Cuvier's beaked whales hold the record for both the deepest and longest recorded dives among mammals. Recorded dives have reached depths of 2,992 m (9,816 ft) and durations of 222 minutes. Although the species is currently listed as Least Concern by the International Union of Conservation of Nature, it faces several anthropogenic (human-made) threats, including entanglement in fishing gear, hunting, and ocean noise. == Anatomy and morphology == === Description === The body of Cuvier's beaked whale is robust and cigar-shaped, similar to those of other beaked whales. Adult Cuvier beaked whales vary in length from 15–23 ft and weight from 4,000–6,800 lbs. Males and females tend to be similar in…