Shepherd’s beaked whale

Shepherd's beaked whale is a species of toothed whale belonging to the family Ziphiidae. These whales are characterized by an extended snout, similar to a beak, and typically have two throat grooves. Unlike most other whales, they lack a central notch in their flukes. Shepherd's beaked whale is unique among its family for possessing numerous small, functional teeth in its lower jaw, whereas most other beaked whales have only one or two pairs of teeth that usually erupt only in males.12

These mammals are found in oceans worldwide but are seldom seen due to their diving habits and the forward-directed blowhole, which makes their exhalation less visible. They primarily feed on deepwater squid, though they may also consume fish and invertebrates. Little is known about many beaked whale species, with some only identified from skeletal remains or occasional strandings.1