Cuvier's Beaked Whale
Ziphius cavirostris
Protected Status
Quick Facts
About the Species
Cuvier's beaked whales, sometimes called "goose-beaked whales," are members of the beaked whale family. They are one of the most frequently sighted species of beaked whales in the world. They are found in most oceans and seas worldwide and have the most extensive range of all beaked whale species. Cuvier’s beaked whales, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Population Status
NOAA Fisheries reviews the status of the Alaska, California/Oregon/Washington, Hawaiian, Northern Gulf of Mexico, and Western North Atlantic stocks of Cuvier’s beaked whale in its stock assessment reports. A stock is a group of animals that occupy the same area and interbreed. They are not considered threatened or endangered.
Appearance
Cuvier’s beaked whales can reach lengths of about 15 to 23 feet and weigh 4,000 to 6,800 pounds. There is no significant sexual dimorphism in regards to body size for this species. Cuvier's beaked whale is medium-sized with a round and robust body and a triangular falcate dorsal fin located far down the animal’s back. The head is a sloping concave-shape with no obvious melon, an indistinct beak, and a large slit-like blowhole. The melon becomes more prominent in adult males. The jaw-line is slightly upturned giving the whale a “smiling” appearance. The profile of the head is sometimes described as “goose-like.” Like other beaked whale species, males have two small cone-shaped teeth erupting out of the tip of the bottom jaw that are often used for fighting.
A Cuvier’s beaked whale’s body has variable coloration that ranges from dark gray to a reddish-brown, with a paler counter-shaded underside. The reddish-brown or orange-yellow coloration is caused by the infestation of microscopic diatoms and algae. The body is often covered with linear scratches and oval-shaped scars. The oval-shaped scars are thought to be caused by the bites of cookie-cutter sharks and lampreys. As this species grows older, they become paler, develop a more significant indentation on the top of the head and accumulate more scarring (especially males). There is a whitish coloration to the face and dark-colored patch around the eye.
Many species of beaked whales (especially those in the genus Mesoplodon) are very difficult to distinguish from one another (even when dead). At sea, they are challenging to observe and identify to the species level due to their cryptic, skittish behavior, a low profile, and a small, inconspicuous blow at the water's surface; therefore, much of the available characterization for beaked whales is to genus level only. Uncertainty regarding species identification of beaked whales often exists because of a lack of easily discernible or distinct physical characteristics.
Behavior and Diet
When at the surface, Cuvier’s beaked whales rarely breach or display other active behavior. Their small blow is about 3.3 feet tall, angled slightly forward, and occurs in 20 to 30 second intervals, often making it barely visible to observers. As they swim, their head and body will roll high out of the water. When preparing for a deep, vertical dive, they may arch their back more than normal and usually display their flukes. These whales are typically found individually or in small groups from two to seven animals, but groups of up to 25 animals have been reported. Lone animals are most likely males.
Like other beaked whales, they are deep divers. Cuvier’s beaked whales are capable of diving up to at least 3,300 feet for 20 to 40 minutes to opportunistically feed on mostly cephalopods (e.g., squid and octopus) and sometimes fish and crustaceans. A pair of ventral throat grooves help to create a vacuum within their mouths, allowing the whales to suck in their targeted prey. The deepest known dive for a Cuvier’s beaked whale was 9,816 feet (nearly 2 miles) and the longest known dive lasted 222 minutes!
Where They Live
Cuvier’s beaked whales can be found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical waters. They have occasionally been sighted in boreal waters as well. They prefer deep pelagic waters (usually greater than 3,300 feet) of the continental slope and edge, as well as around steep underwater geologic features like banks, seamounts, and submarine canyons. Recent surveys suggest that beaked whales, like this species, may favor oceanographic features such as currents, current boundaries, and core ring features.
Cuvier’s beaked whales have a cosmopolitan distribution and can be found in most oceans and seas worldwide. Most of the distribution information is based on stranding records. The seasonality and migration patterns of this species are not known. Genetic diversity studies indicate that Cuvier’s beaked whales generally remain in their “home” ocean basins, which may create well-defined populations. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are known to occur near the Aleutian Islands, Bay of Biscay, British Columbia, Canada, Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, Massachusetts, Mediterranean Sea, and the Shetlands. In the Southern Hemisphere, they are known to occur near New Zealand, South Africa, and Tierra del Fuego. They have also stranded in tropical environments such as the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Galapagos Islands.
Lifespan & Reproduction
Cuvier’s beaked whales reach sexual maturity at lengths of 18 to 20 feet for males and 20 feet for females, which is usually between seven to 11 years of age. Breeding and calving can apparently occur year round, but often during the spring. After a year-long gestation period, females give birth to a single calf every two to three years. Newborn calves, dark black or blue in coloration, are about 6.5 to 9 feet long and weight 550 to 660 pounds. They have an estimated lifespan of up to 60 years.
Threats
Entanglement in Fishing Gear
They have been taken in fisheries in the Caribbean Sea, Chile, Indonesia, Peru, and Taiwan.
Hunting
This species has been taken in Japanese whaling operations (three to 35 per year) targeting Baird’s beaked whales.
Ocean Noise
This species of beaked whale may be sensitive to underwater sounds and anthropogenic noise. Strandings of this species in the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Canary Islands, and Mediterranean Sea have been associated with active naval sonar. Anthropogenic noise levels in the world’s oceans are an increasing habitat concern, particularly for deep-diving cetaceans like Cuvier’s beaked whales that use sound to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Mammalia | Order | Cetacea | Family | Hyperoodontidae | Genus | Ziphius | Species | cavirostris |
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What We Do
Conservation & Management
All Cuvier’s beaked whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Our work protects this species by:
- Reducing interactions with commercial and recreational fishing gear
- Responding to dead, injured, or entangled Cuvier’s beaked whales
- Implementing requirements to reduce serious injuries and mortalities
- Minimizing the effects of vessel disturbance, noise, and other types of human impacts
Science
Our research projects have helped us better understand Cuvier’s beaked whales and the challenges they face. Our work includes:
- Stock assessments
- Acoustic monitoring
- Shipboard surveys
How You Can Help
Keep Your Distance
Be responsible when viewing marine life in the wild. Observe all large whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards and limit your time spent observing to 30 minutes or less.
Report Marine Life in Distress
Report a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond. Never approach or try to save an injured or entangled animal yourself—it can be dangerous to both the animal and you.
Learn who you should contact when you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal
Report a Violation
Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report a federal marine resource violation. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States.
You may also contact your closest NOAA Office of Law Enforcement field office during regular business hours.
Featured News
Management Overview
Cuvier’s beaked whales, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Conservation Efforts
Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response
We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including all whales. When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and our partners assess the animal’s health and determine the best course of action. When stranded animals are found dead, our scientists work to understand and investigate the cause of death. Although the cause often remains unknown, scientists can sometimes attribute strandings to disease, harmful algal blooms, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure, and underwater noise. Some strandings can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues that may also have implications for human health and welfare.
Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events
Cuvier’s beaked whales have never been part of a declared unusual mortality event. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, an unusual mortality event is defined as "a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response." To understand the health of marine mammal populations, scientists study unusual mortality events.
Key Actions and Documents
Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory's Marine Geophysical Survey of the Reykjanes Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean
Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) (2018-2025)
Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory's Marine Geophysical Survey in the Puerto Rico Trench and slope of Puerto Rico
Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory's marine geophysical surveys of the Blake Plateau in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Science Overview
Our research projects have helped us better understand Cuvier’s beaked whales and the challenges they face. Our work includes:
- Stock assessments
- Acoustic monitoring
- Shipboard surveys
Recent Science Blogs
Documents
Alaska Region Marine Mammal Annual Stranding Reports
Annual summary reports of strandings of cetaceans (whales) and pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) that…
Data & Maps
Passive Acoustic Cetacean Map
This mapping tool shows when and where specific whale, dolphin, and other cetacean species were…
Research
Passive Acoustic Research at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center
The Passive Acoustic Ecology Program conducts a variety of research projects that use passive acoustics to assess populations and improve our understanding of cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. waters of the Western Atlantic.
Sounds In the Ocean: Mammals
Listen to exemplar sound clips of marine mammal sounds, taken from passive acoustic recorders. We have compiled these sounds to provide examples of the variety and breadth of animal sounds.
California Current Marine Mammal Assessment Program
The California Current Marine Mammal Assessment Program conducts research on population assessment for species inhabiting waters off the U.S. West Coast, and on improving assessment methodology for application throughout the U.S. and internationally. We…
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan
The goal of the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (Plan) is to reduce serious injuries and deaths of several marine mammal stocks incidental to the California/Oregon thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery.
Outreach & Education
Acoustic Studies Sound Board Of Marine Mammals In Alaska
This resource features passive acoustic sound clips of many amazing marine mammals that can be…