Family Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales)

IDENTIFICATION
The Bering Sea Beaked Whale can reach a length of 6.1 metres and is found from Oregon waters to the Bering Sea. It is blackish with a grey or white head and white streaks on the body. The male has one large flat, tusklike tooth on each side of the lower jaw, and the female is generally toothless. The dorsal fin is small and set well back on the body, as it is on the other beaked whales. The Bering Sea Beaked Whale is difficult to identify - almost impossible in the wild. The only way to identify it for certain is to examine its skull.

MEALS, MANNERS AND MIGRATION
The Bering Sea Beaked Whale feeds on squid, as well as some fishes, including salmon. These whales travel in small pods of two or three or maybe more. The Bering Sea Beaked Whale does not frequent shorelines or follow ships. It seems to be a non-migratory species, but probably shifts latitudes with the seasons. Biologists still know very little about this species.

STATUS
COSEWIC has made no status designation for the Bering Sea Beaked Whale. Since there are no apparent threats and the population has likely always been rare, it does not require conservation status.

DISTRIBUTION
The Bering Sea Beaked Whale is confined to the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea where it is associated with cool, deep waters (730 to 1,560 m) on the edge of the continental shelf.