Southern duck whale
| Southern duck whale | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Hyperoodon planifrons | ||||||||||||
| Flower , 1882 |
The southern duck whale ( Hyperoodon planifrons ) is a species of whale from the family of the beaked whales (Ziphiidae). It is very similar to the Northern Duck Whale ( H. ampullatus ), which lives in the North Atlantic and is one of the best-known species in this family.
distribution
The southern duck whale lives in a circumpolar manner in the sub- Antarctic seas , with more frequent sightings in Patagonia , South Africa , southern Australia , New Zealand and the Antarctic coast . On its hikes, however, it regularly penetrates to the equator , for example it has been observed off the coast of Hawaii and Sri Lanka . In the (Antarctic) summer it moves to the pack ice region of the Antarctic, while in the cooler months it moves to more tropical waters. South of latitude 58 degrees south , the southern duck whale is the most common whale.
description
Southern duck whales reach a length of up to 8 meters, with males with a length of around 7.5 meters being significantly larger than females (around 6.5 meters). Its weight is estimated at 6 to 8 tons. They stay smaller than their northern relatives and are characterized by a short snout and a clearly curved melon , which is particularly pronounced in adult males. Males have two large teeth in the lower jaw that are slightly inclined forward and curved outward. The sickle-shaped, small fin is about two thirds of the body length. The skin of these whales is gray-brown in color, with the face, belly and flanks being lighter. In addition, these animals brighten up as they get older. The skin of older males is covered with paired scars.
Way of life
Since these animals live far away from the major shipping routes and have not been well researched, there is little reliable knowledge about their way of life. In most respects it should be the same as that of its northern counterpart. Like most beaked whales, southern duck whales prefer the open sea with depths of over 1,000 meters and rarely come into the continental shelf area. They live together in schools of two to twelve animals. In contrast to the northern duck whale, there are few reports of approaches to boats, but this is less due to the shyness of the animals than to a lack of observation.
The main diet of these whales consists of squid , but they also eat fish .
Little is known about the reproduction of the southern duck whale. Most calves are expected to be born in spring and be around three meters tall at birth.
threat
Unlike its northern cousin, the southern duck whale has never been commercially hunted on a large scale. Although it is little known and rarely seen by humans, its population is estimated at around 500,000 animals, making it the most common whale in the Antarctic region.
literature
- Rüdiger Wandrey: The whales and seals of the world. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH, 1997, ISBN 3-440-07047-6 .
Web links
- Hyperoodon planifrons inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: Taylor, BL, Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, SM, Ford, J., Mead, JG, Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. & Pitman, RL, 2008. Retrieved on 20th September 2013.