Tasmacetus
Quick Summary
The genus Tasmacetus, also known as Shepherd's beaked whale, is a type of beaked whale belonging to the family Ziphiidae. Beaked whales are medium-sized toothed whales characterized by an extended snout and two throat grooves that meet under the chin.1
Tasmacetus is unusual among beaked whales because it possesses numerous small, functional teeth, unlike most species where functional teeth are limited to one or two pairs in the lower jaw, often only erupting in males. These whales are found in the far southern seas and around Antarctica. Little is known about beaked whales in general, as they are rarely seen due to their deep diving habits and the way they exhale their blow.1
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